Climeworks, a global leader in direct air capture technology, has recently unveiled its latest Generation 3 technology, which promises significant improvements in performance and efficiency. The new technology will initially be deployed in the United States before being replicated on secure project sites worldwide.
The new Generation 3 technology utilizes innovative structured sorbent materials instead of packed filter beds used in previous generations. These new sorbent materials consume half the energy of their predecessors and are designed to last three times longer. Additionally, the new structures increase surface contact with CO2, reducing the time to capture and release it by at least two times compared to previous technology iterations.
With this new technology, Climeworks aims to achieve its cost reduction targets, with projected costs of $250-$350 per ton captured and total costs of $400-$600 per ton net removal by 2030. This represents up to a 50% decrease in costs compared to current prices.
Over the past five years, Climeworks has been developing and testing the technology and design at its largest direct air capture testing facility in Switzerland. In June 2024, the technology was implemented at full scale for the first time.
Jan Wurzbacher, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Climeworks, emphasized the company’s commitment to technology leadership and scale-up to megaton removal capacities based on real field data. The first plant to utilize the Generation 3 technology will be constructed in Louisiana as part of the Project Cypress DAC Hub, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026. Climeworks is also actively working on projects in other countries like Norway, Kenya, and Canada, as well as exploring additional sites for deployment.
