FT News Briefing Climate tech to save the planet: Out of thin air
Nov 6, 2022
Explore the cutting-edge world of direct air carbon capture in Iceland, where engineers are turning CO2 into stone using renewable energy. Discover the innovative Orca facility, the largest of its kind, and the critical challenges of scaling this technology to combat climate change. The discussion also highlights hydrogen's potential as a sustainable fuel, showcasing its promise in the fight against global warming. Will these advances lead to real change or simply serve as a band-aid for polluters? Tune in for an enlightening journey into climate tech!
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Kari's Shift to Climate Science
- Kari Helgeson, initially inspired by astrophysics, shifted his focus to CO2 due to the climate crisis.
- Witnessing sci-fi-like carbon capture tech in Iceland motivated this change.
Iceland's Basalt Advantage
- Iceland's basalt bedrock offers ideal conditions for CO2 storage, reacting with it to form stable carbonate minerals.
- CarbFix accelerates this natural process, turning CO2 into stone in months or years, not millennia.
Orca Plant's Innovation
- Climeworks' Orca plant is the world's first commercial direct air capture and storage facility.
- It uses specialized filters and heat to capture CO2, then pipes it to CarbFix for underground storage.