Frontier, a facilitator of carbon removal agreements, has partnered with 280 Earth, a company at the forefront of direct air capture (DAC) technology.
This collaboration aims to permanently remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Under this agreement, Frontier buyers will invest $40 million in 280 Earth. This investment will fund the removal of over 61,500 tons of CO₂ between 2024 and 2030.
The captured carbon will come from 280 Earth‘s pilot facility located in The Dalles, Oregon, making Frontier the first group to purchase from this innovative unit.
DAC technology offers a promising solution for climate change. It has the potential to remove vast quantities of carbon dioxide from the air, unlike other methods limited by resources. Additionally, verification of captured carbon is simpler with DAC compared to some alternative approaches.
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However, traditional DAC systems can be expensive due to the energy required for operation. 280 Earth tackles this challenge with a unique design, which utilizes readily available components and can be powered by various sources, including electricity or waste heat from industrial processes.
This design holds particular promise when integrated with data centers, which generate significant amounts of heat and require substantial cooling.
280 Earth’s system can not only capture CO2, but also utilize the captured water vapor to cool data centers, reducing water usage.
Why 280 Earth?
Founded in 2018 at X, Google’s innovation lab, 280 Earth is dedicated to making DAC technology more affordable.
Their approach focuses on minimizing both initial setup costs and ongoing operational expenses. Their system operates continuously, employing a special material they developed to capture CO2 from the air.
The captured carbon can then be permanently stored underground or used in building materials like concrete.
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This collaboration between Frontier and 280 Earth demonstrates a significant advancement in the fight against climate change.
By combining innovative technology with financial backing, this partnership has the potential to make a real difference in reducing atmospheric CO2 levels.
Hannah Bebbington, Head of Strategy at Frontier, said: “DAC’s benefits make it an important potential part of the global carbon removal portfolio, but we need smart ways to lower costs and scale the pathway. 280 Earth’s unique process design offers them a pathway to overcome the challenging cost barrier for DAC.”
