CDR: high hopes, hardly any clue

The worlds largest direct air capture and storage plant that permanently removes CO from the air has opened in Iceland. Run by Swiss company Climeworks, Orca sucks carbon dioxide directly from the air and buries it as rocks deep underground, using technology from Climeworks Icelandic partner Carbfix. Orca has the capacity to remove 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere this way each year. The number equates roughly the emissions from 870 cars or 9,281 consumed barrels of oil, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gas calculator. The Orca plant is located in Hellisheidi, Iceland, adjacent to Icelandic energy company ON Power s geothermal power plant, and is entirely run on this rene PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxFRA Copyright: xx 50626631

To meet the Paris climate targets, carbon dioxide must be removed from the atmosphere. But many carbon dioxide removal (CDR) methods are still in their infancy. Scientists are now urging policymakers to quickly devise a plan to promote negative emissions.

Alexandra Endres

Last updated: 24. July 2025

Carbon Removal CDR Climate Targets

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CDR: high hopes, hardly any clue

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