In this episode, we speak with Dr. Christoph Gebald, co-founder and co-CEO of Climeworks, one of the world’s leading direct air capture (DAC) companies. Gebald shares insights into Climeworks’ journey and vision for the future, and the crucial role of carbon removal in achieving sustainable aviation.

He discusses:

1. How their direct air capture technology (DAC) removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it permanently underground through mineralisation. 
2. Climeworks has achieved a significant technological breakthrough with their Generation 3 technology, which doubles CO2 capture capacity per module while halving energy consumption, making it increasingly cost-competitive.
3. Climeworks’ notable partnerships with major airlines including SWISS, Lufthansa, and British Airways.
4. Climeworks’ second commercial direct air capture and storage plant Mammoth, which opened in 2024 in Iceland. The facility is designed to capture up to 36,000 tons of CO2 annually once fully operational and is the world’s largest DAC facility.
5. Climeworks Solutions, which offers a portfolio approach to carbon removal that combines their DAC with other methods like biochar and afforestation, meeting clients’ needs for diversified climate action strategies.

Throughout the conversation, Gebald emphasises the complementary nature of different climate solutions, the importance of both technological and natural approaches, and his optimism about consumer demand driving sustainable aviation. 

If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Anna Stukas, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at 1PointFive, who discusses DAC’s crucial role in aviation’s path to net zero. Check it out here. 

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links & More:

Climeworks

Climeworks strikes 40,000-ton carbon removal deal with Morgan Stanley - WSJ

SWISS, Lufthansa Group sign carbon removal deal with Climeworks - ESG Today  

Climeworks opens world’s largest plant to extract CO2 from air in Iceland - Reuters

This episode is brought to you by 4AIR. 4AIR is leading the way with the industry’s first framework to address aviation’s climate impact—offering clear, verifiable pathways to reduce and counteract aircraft emissions. For more information, please visit: https://www.4air.aero/