The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Energy inaugurated the live demonstration of Climeworks’ first direct air capture (DAC) testing unit at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Centre (KAPSARC) facilities in Riyadh.

 

The mobile DAC unit is now operational, effectively capturing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and validating Climeworks’ technology under the region’s hot and arid conditions.

 

It was inaugurated in the presence of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Minister of Energy.

 

This launch is a testament to the Kingdom’s leadership in advancing the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) and reflects its commitment to pragmatic, scalable solutions for achieving global climate goals within the Saudi national context.

 

The demonstration underscores Saudi Arabia’s ambitious commitment to advancing CCE technologies, particularly Direct Air Capture (DAC).

 

A key objective of the testing unit is to evaluate its performance under harsh, high-temperature conditions, which are significantly different from Climeworks’ traditional operations in colder climates such as Iceland.

 

This will provide critical insights into the technology’s potential deployment across Saudi Arabia and similar climates worldwide.

 

Hosting the DAC testing unit at KAPSARC highlights the centre’s role as the Kingdom’s leading energy think tank and its contributions to national climate and carbon management strategies.

 

Leveraging its extensive expertise in carbon capture, techno-economic modelling, and climate policy analysis, KAPSARC serves as a partner for piloting advanced climate technologies under realistic conditions.

 

These advantages drive the Kingdom’s efforts to lead cost-effective, industrial-scale carbon removal, reinforcing its contribution to achieving long-term climate goals.

 

The DAC unit is part of a broader feasibility assessment launched following a Memorandum of Understanding signed between KAPSARC and Climeworks at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in December 2024.

 

The initiative aims to identify and advance opportunities for DAC deployment in the Kingdom, supporting Saudi Arabia’s strategic drive towards achieving net-zero emissions.

 

Additionally, the collaboration has underscored the substantial economic opportunities associated with scaling DAC technologies within Saudi Arabia. -OGN / TradeArabia News Service