Zurich/Nairobi – Cleantech startup Climeworks has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Great Carbon Valley. The goal is to build CO2 capture and storage facilities in Kenya. These are expected to remove up to 1 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
Zurich-based start-up Climeworks has agreed to collaborate with Great Carbon Valley(GCV) in Kenya. Together, the partners plan to implement several projects in Kenya that will filter CO2 from the atmosphere and store it underground. This uses technology from Climeworks, which was originally developed at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich(ETH).
The first Climeworks and GCV plant could begin operations as early as 2028, according to the release. When fully implemented, the joint project is expected to remove and store up to 1 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
As a first step, GCV will now investigate storage and energy options in Kenya with various partners. After that, Climeworks and GCV want to start the realization of the first plant, as far as the energy and storage infrastructure can be developed and implemented. Partners have committed to using local labor and supply chains as part of the collaboration.
For the Kenya project, Climeworks is drawing on its experience in a similar project in Iceland, where a CO2 capture and storage facility is already in operation. “Kenya’s Great Rift Valley offers the geological potential for safe and sustained CO2 mineralization in the deep subsurface, similar to the proven model in Iceland,” Climeworks said in the release.
GCV specializes in implementing carbon capture projects throughout Africa. The project brings it closer to its goal of creating a network of carbon capture plants in Africa. ce/ssp
