The simplest and probably the most cost-effective method to reduce carbon dioxide from our atmosphere is by planting trees. However, one weakness of this method is the amount of land needed for it. But because carbon dioxide is a growing problem in today’s world, some companies have started looking for other methods to reduce carbon dioxide. One such method that they have found is by building big carbon dioxide-removing machines, also known as “direct air capture” (DAC) machines.
Just recently, the Swiss company Clineworks, with their Icelandic partner Carbfix, have launched the Orca, their new direct air capture and storage plant, which is stationed in Iceland. The Orca is said to be the largest DAC and storage plant in the world. It is said that this humongous machine will capture 4000 tons of CO₂ per year, which is about the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by 870 cars. The plant opened on September 8 of this year.
The plant is composed of eight boxes about the size of shipping containers, each fitted with a dozen fans that pull in air. CO2 is filtered out, mixed with water, and pumped into deep underground wells, where over the course of a few years it turns to stone, effectively removing it from circulation in the atmosphere.
While the Orca is certainly a big milestone, the DAC industry still has a long way to go if they plan to achieve the International Energy Agency’s Sustainable Development Scenario goal of 10 million tons of carbon dioxide captured annually.
(All Images Credit: Climeworks)
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