Climeworks Captures More CO₂ with Half the Energy

Climeworks halves energy use and doubles CO₂ capture with new tech, signaling a leap toward scalable, efficient carbon removal.

17 Jun 2025

Climeworks, a pioneer in carbon removal, announced a breakthrough DAC system that uses half the energy and captures twice the carbon. The upgrade could mark a turning point in the race to scale climate solutions.

Unveiled in May after months of rigorous field testing, the new system swaps out traditional loose adsorbent particles for stacked sheets developed with Canadian firm Svante. This structured design traps carbon dioxide more effectively and releases it using significantly less energy. The result is a sleeker, faster process that could finally make DAC commercially viable.

“You can’t overstate the importance of rigorous testing before building at scale,” said Climeworks co-founder Jan Wurzbacher. He noted the tech ran through over 1,300 operating cycles in real-world conditions before getting the green light. Svante CEO Claude Letourneau called the system a “transformation,” highlighting its broader impact beyond just Climeworks.

The timing could not be better. With pressure mounting to hit net-zero targets, industries are scrambling for credible tools to curb emissions. More efficient DAC tech lowers costs and strengthens the case for carbon credits, giving companies a way to offset emissions that are otherwise hard to eliminate.

But this is bigger than just cleaner machines. It is a signal that Europe may be positioning itself as a hub for carbon tech innovation. As the region sharpens its climate rules and carbon markets mature, scalable DAC could become a key pillar in national strategies. If the momentum holds, expect more deals, more dollars, and faster innovation.

Plenty of challenges remain, including long-term storage, permitting, and financing. But this milestone shifts the conversation. Scalable, affordable DAC is no longer a distant hope. It is beginning to look like a real option.