17 Carbontech futures

Carbontech futures

The world shift toward net zero ushers in a new boom in carbontech.

In the transition to net zero, the world urgently needs carbon-reduction strategies. As innovations in carbon capture start to become less expensive, a carbontech boom could be on the way.

Tech will be crucial for tackling emissions, as Jan Wurzbacher, founder of the Swiss carbon capture company Climeworks, told Wired in October 2021: “We have to mitigate, but that will not be enough; we will have biological solutions, they won’t be enough, and so we need technical solutions.”

In September 2021, Climeworks opened its biggest facility yet in Iceland. The plant uses modular carbon dioxide collector units to filter carbon out of the air and turn it into a liquid. Working with Icelandic company Carbfix, it then pumps the liquid underground, where it reacts with Iceland’s native rock, turning the carbon dioxide into stone. Although the technology currently only sucks a small percentage of carbon out of the air, the modular nature of the system means the solution can be easily and economically scaled.

Looking to the skies, Israeli startup High Hopes Labs is betting on large balloons to trap carbon dioxide high up in the atmosphere where it freezes almost solid, making it easier to gather. Having tested its cryodistillation process with small balloons, the company is hoping to scale up its operation within the next two years, capturing the same amount of carbon dioxide at a lower cost than many on-the-ground solutions available today.

Once carbon has been captured, other brands are stepping in to use it in their products, turning waste into valuable resources. Chicago-based Aether uses carbon dioxide to create diamonds, while Canadian sportswear brand Lululemon joined forces with biotech company LanzaTech in July 2021 to create fabric made from waste carbon dioxide.

As innovations in carbon capture start to become less expensive, a carbontech boom could be on the way.

Why it’s interesting While carbon capture on a grand scale remains expensive, new projects are proving that costs can come down—and a nascent economy is emerging to capitalize on waste carbon. “Has the carbontech revolution begun?” asked the New York Times in June 2021. As the drive toward net zero becomes the new normal, the appetite for these solutions is only set to grow.