First Commercial Direct Air Capture Facility Opens in the U.S.
A new facility in Tracy, California, has officially become the first commercial direct air capture facility in the United States. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, marking a significant achievement in the fight against climate change. The facility, built by Heirloom Carbon Technologies, may be small in size, but it showcases the potential of a nascent industry that experts believe is crucial for combating climate change.
A Small Facility with Big Potential
Heirloom Carbon Technologies estimates that once fully operational, the facility will be capable of removing 1,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere per year. While this may seem like a small number, it is equivalent to the annual emissions of just 62 average Americans. The significance of this plant lies in its potential to pave the way for a larger industry dedicated to direct air capture, which scientists say is necessary to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
Scaling Up in Just Three Years
The rapid development of Heirloom Carbon Technologies is impressive. In just three years, the company has gone from conception to commercialization. This achievement demonstrates the promise of direct air capture technology and its potential to make a positive impact on the world. Energy Secretary Granholm expressed her optimism about the company and its technology, emphasizing the importance of such innovations in addressing climate change.
The Ceremony and Attendees
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by various notable figures, including California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis and Heirloom co-founders Shashank Samala and Noah McQueen. Samala, a startup veteran, founded Heirloom in 2020 with McQueen, who was pursuing a doctorate in chemical engineering at the time. Jennifer Wilcox, McQueen’s former adviser at the University of Pennsylvania, now leads the Energy Department’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. Wilcox was present at the ceremony to support her former student and her boss. Executives from companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, and Mitsubishi, who are major purchasers of carbon dioxide removal credits, also attended the event. Heirloom has received investments from Microsoft and a grant from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
The Carbon Capture Process
Heirloom’s new facility in Tracy uses stacked sheets of limestone to extract carbon from the atmosphere. Once a sheet has absorbed the maximum amount of CO2, a robotic arm removes it from the stack and transfers it to an electric kiln. Powered by renewable energy from Pacific Gas and Electric, the kiln separates the carbon from the limestone using intense heat. The captured CO2 is stored in a 30-ton tank and eventually provided to concrete companies for permanent storage. The limestone is then returned to the stack to continue the carbon capture process.
The Future of Direct Air Capture
Heirloom’s success in opening the first commercial direct air capture facility in the U.S. is a significant step forward. In August, the company was selected by the Department of Energy to participate in the construction of industrial hubs aimed at removing 2 million tons of carbon from the atmosphere annually. Other companies, such as Climeworks and Carbon Engineering, are also making strides in direct air capture technology.
Energy Secretary Granholm emphasized the urgency of deploying carbon removal technology, especially considering the record-breaking temperatures experienced in recent years. The opening of Heirloom’s facility highlights the need for continued innovation and investment in direct air capture to combat climate change effectively.
Photo: Freepik.com
