Europe's Largest Direct Air Capture Carbon Removal Project Set to Unfold under Phlair's Leadership
In a significant stride towards carbon management and climate change mitigation, Phlair and Carbon Removal have announced the development of Europe's first large-scale Direct Air Capture (DAC) carbon removal and geological storage project in Øygarden, Norway.
## Project Overview
The collaboration, which includes Phlair, a leading DAC technology company, and Carbon Removal's subsidiary NorDAC Kollsnes AS, will see the construction of a DAC facility situated next to the Northern Lights carbon transportation and storage project. This strategic location leverages Norway's existing infrastructure for CO2 storage and its 100% renewable power grid.
## Project Phases
The project is set to commence with an initial capacity to remove 60,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. With plans for expansion, it is expected to scale up to 500,000 tonnes per year in its second phase, marking a substantial increase in carbon removal capacity.
## Expected Impact
This project is seen as a crucial step in establishing Europe as a leader in carbon management, demonstrating the potential for DAC technology to significantly contribute to climate change mitigation. Phlair’s DAC system is designed to operate using solar electricity, which should help keep CO2 removal costs low while supporting the grid. The aim is to show that DAC can scale sustainably with renewable energy infrastructure.
The proximity to the Northern Lights project allows for efficient carbon storage, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the DAC operation. The Northern Lights project itself is expanding its capacity to transport and store more than 5 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2028.
## Integration with Existing Infrastructure
The project in Norway was chosen due to the region's available infrastructure for CO2 storage and its 100% renewable power grid. Captured carbon will be permanently stored or used for CO2-negative chemicals, further reinforcing Europe's potential to become a leader in carbon management.
Eirik Lilledahl, Carbon Removal's Founder and Chair, expressed his belief in the prospects of DAC in Norway and its potential as a large-scale contributor to the fight against climate change. Malte Feucht, CEO of Phlair, made a statement regarding the project, although no specific statement was provided in the information given.
Under the new partnership, Phlair will supply hydrolyzer modules, engineering services, installation, and commissioning for the project. NorDAC will be responsible for the remaining infrastructure, project development, and operations.
This project is expected to play a pivotal role in Europe's transition to a net-zero energy system by showcasing the feasibility and scalability of DAC technology integrated with renewable energy sources. The partnership aims to lay the foundations for large-scale, permanent carbon removal in Europe.
- This DAC project, a collaboration between Phlair and Carbon Rem removal's subsidiary NorDAC Kollsnes AS, falls under the umbrella of environmental science, taking a significant stride towards climate-change mitigation through carbon removal technology.
- Science and finance merged in this venture, with the aim to demonstrate that DAC can scale sustainably with renewable energy infrastructure, thereby reducing carbon removal costs and supporting the grid.
- The energy sector will be transformed through this project, as the integrated renewable power grid of Norway will power Phlair’s DAC system, while the captured carbon will be efficiently stored or utilized for CO2-negative chemicals, reinforcing Europe's potential as a leader in carbon management.
- The technology aspect comes into play with the implementation and operation of the Direct Air Capture (DAC) facility, which aims to contribute significantly to climate change mitigation efforts and pave the way for large-scale, permanent carbon removal in Europe, impacting the industry in a substantial manner.
