Carbon capture and removal companies Return and Verified are set to deliver the first-ever 100% wind-powered DAC plant in West Texas.
The companies have partnered with direct air capture (DAC) developer Skytree and sustainable energy company Greenalia to develop a new, energy-efficient facility that will capture CO2 emissions from the atmosphere.
The collaborative initiative, named Project Concho, will initially be able to remove 50,000 tons of carbon on a yearly basis before 2030, with plans to expand to an amount of 500,000 tons per year, generating high-quality, verified carbon credits.
For its operations, the groundbreaking plant will run its DAC technology with wind power and utilize onsite geological CO2 storage to permanently remove the captured carbon dioxide.
DAC technology is at the forefront of decarbonization solutions that provide meaningful, climate-relevant results. However, this approach also comes with a high operational energy demand, a factor that has challenged its scaling so far.
With their novel, entirely wind-powered DAC plant, Return, Verified, Skytree, and Greenalia are carving a path that has the potential to revolutionize the DAC industry.
This advancement will be enabled by a new wind farm, to be built and operated by leading renewable energy producer Greenalia. With the power generated at the wind farm, the project developers will fuel the DAC technology delivered by carbon removal innovators Skytree.
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Project Concho will host a connected network of the Skytree Stratus DAC units that actively capture CO2 from the air with 24/7 operations. This patented system continuously optimizes energy use and lowers the energy consumption while providing optimal capture efficiency.
For further energy optimization, Project Concho and Greenalia included a unique Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) that will enable the project flexible use of power, safeguarding the price stability and guaranteeing full energy deliverability.
With its carbon management activities, the project is also expected to result in benefits for local landowners in the Concho Valley, who will be able to access new passive income streams while implementing sustainable practices in the use of their land.
Read more: Skytree Reveals New Direct Air Capture Unit Skytree Stratus
