The European Union is set to receive its first onshore carbon removal and storage facility, with a groundbreaking partnership between carbon storage startups RepAir Carbon and C-Questra announced on Monday. This project, located in France, could play a crucial role in the bloc's ambitious climate goals by removing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere.
The project will utilise Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACS) technology, which captures carbon dioxide directly from the air and stores it underground. This technology is a critical step in tackling climate change, as it offers a way to remove existing CO2 from the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions.
While existing DAC solutions often require significant energy consumption and can even release more CO2 than they capture, RepAir Carbon's innovative technology offers a more efficient alternative. Their approach eliminates the need for heat and relies solely on electricity, resulting in a 70% reduction in energy consumption compared to other methods.
The carbon storage aspect of the project is crucial for ensuring the permanence of CO2 removal. RepAir and C-Questra will store the captured CO2 in underground geological formations, such as saline aquifers, under a robust monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system. This system guarantees the safety and integrity of the CO2 value chain, from capture to permanent storage.
This project also benefits from its onshore location, significantly reducing costs associated with offshore infrastructure. The facility will be situated near Paris in Grandpuits, Ãle-de-France, where C-Questra has applied for a permit to develop a CO2 storage site. The project's initial goal is to remove 100,000 tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030, with the potential to scale up to megatons by 2035.
This partnership comes on the heels of another significant project in Greece, where Southern Europe aims to establish the first commercial-scale CO2 storage hub. This hub, part of the Mediterranean Carbon Capture and Storage (CSS) Strategic Plan developed by France, Italy, and Greece, eliminates the need for expensive midstream and offshore infrastructure, streamlining the process and reducing costs.
"This is setting a new standard for efficient, scalable carbon removal in Europe," remarked Jean-Philippe Hiegel, Head of Strategy and Growth at RepAir Carbon, in a press release. "The combination of our technology, which uses just 0.6 MWh per tonne of CO2 captured â compared to 2.5 MWh for most competitors, and C-Questra's unique set of carbon storage expertise, addresses a key barrier to widespread DACS adoption." He added, "This is incredibly exciting given global decarbonisation needs."
The launch of this project further reinforces Europe's commitment to tackling climate change. It joins another existing direct air capture and storage plant in Iceland, which commenced operations in 2021. This growing number of projects signifies a shift towards innovative and sustainable solutions for mitigating the impacts of climate change.
