^{Photo: Renewable Carbon}

The world is rapidly waking up to the reality that reducing emissions may not be enough. To meet climate goals, we may also need to remove existing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere — and that’s where Climeworks, a startup based in Zurich, Switzerland, is making headlines. As one of the global pioneers in direct air capture (DAC), Climeworks is developing cutting-edge technology that literally pulls CO₂ out of thin air — then locks it away permanently.

While it sounds like science fiction, Climeworks is already operating real, commercial facilities and helping companies like Microsoft, Stripe, and Shopify neutralize their carbon footprint.

The Problem: Too Much Carbon in the Air

Even if the world stopped burning fossil fuels today, the massive amounts of CO₂ already in the atmosphere would continue to warm the planet for decades. Trees and oceans can absorb some of it, but not nearly enough to balance out what humanity has already emitted.

That’s where direct air capture comes in. Unlike traditional carbon capture (which traps emissions at the source, like a factory chimney), DAC removes CO₂ directly from ambient air — anywhere, anytime. It’s a highly scalable solution that could become a vital part of the climate fight, especially for hard-to-decarbonize industries.

How Climeworks' Technology Works

Climeworks uses modular machines that pull in ambient air using giant fans. Once inside, a chemical filter captures the CO₂ molecules. The machines then heat the material to release the CO₂ in pure form, which can be either reused or stored underground.

Their largest facility to date — Orca, located in Iceland — can capture up to 4,000 tons of CO₂ per year, using renewable geothermal energy to power the process. The captured CO₂ is mixed with water and injected deep underground, where it reacts with volcanic rock and turns into stone within a few years — a truly permanent storage method.

This process ensures that the CO₂ doesn’t just shift to another location or industry, but is genuinely removed from the atmosphere for good.

Business Model and Partnerships

Climeworks generates revenue by selling carbon removal credits to companies and individuals. Its customers pay for the permanent removal of CO₂ to offset their unavoidable emissions. This makes Climeworks one of the few climate tech companies offering a tangible, measurable climate solution with verifiable results.

Major corporations, including Microsoft, Swiss Re, and Shopify, have signed multi-year deals with Climeworks as part of their net-zero strategies. This not only gives Climeworks reliable funding but also sets a precedent for how businesses can take direct responsibility for their climate impact.

Funding and Expansion

Climeworks has raised hundreds of millions of dollars from investors who believe carbon removal is not just a moral imperative, but a profitable frontier. The company’s 2022 funding round — one of the largest ever for carbon capture — set the stage for global expansion.

A newer and even larger facility, Mammoth, is currently being developed in Iceland and is expected to capture 36,000 tons of CO₂ per year, nearly 10x the capacity of Orca. This will position Climeworks as the world’s largest DAC operator and prove the scalability of its modular system.

Challenges and Criticism

Despite its promise, DAC technology is expensive. Capturing one ton of CO₂ currently costs several hundred dollars, although prices are expected to fall as the technology scales and improves. Critics argue that relying on DAC might delay decarbonization in other areas — but Climeworks insists that its solution is meant to complement, not replace, emission reduction efforts.

The company is also transparent about its limitations, clearly stating that carbon removal is not a silver bullet — but one necessary piece of the broader climate solution puzzle.

The Future of Carbon Removal

Climeworks’ long-term vision is bold: capture gigatons of CO₂ per year by 2050. While that’s still a long way off, their progress so far shows real promise. As more governments set net-zero targets and as carbon pricing becomes more widespread, demand for permanent carbon removal is expected to explode.

By proving that it's possible to reverse emissions, Climeworks is not only building a business — it’s offering hope. In an era of climate anxiety and policy gridlock, Climeworks represents a rare blend of science, scale, and optimism.

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Climeworks is doing what few startups dare to attempt: solving a massive global crisis with hard science and long-term thinking. With visionary leadership, powerful technology, and real-world results, it’s proving that climate solutions don’t have to be abstract. They can be mechanical, measurable, and — in Climeworks’ case — made in Switzerland.

As the planet races against time, startups like Climeworks may be the ones pulling us back from the brink — one captured carbon molecule at a time.