Climeworks

File:Climeworks-Anlage.jpg in Bern]]

Climeworks was founded in 2009 by the mechanical engineers Jan Wurzbacher and Christoph Gebald, who lead the company as co-CEOs. During their PhDs at the ETH Zurich, the two founders conducted research on direct air capture technology to remove carbon dioxide from the air. Based on that scientific research, Climeworks was founded as a spin-off from ETH Zurich.

In 2011, Climeworks received capital from investors for the first time to develop a prototype with a modular structure. The company was able to evolve its technology from laboratory to commercial scale, presenting the first concept of a modular {{CO2}} collector and a working prototype in 2014.{{Cite web |title=Climeworks' journey towards removing billions of tons of CO₂ from the air |url=https://climeworks.com/purpose |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=climeworks.com |language=en}}

The corporate offices of Climeworks AG are in Zürich and a German subsidiary Climeworks Deutschland GmbH opened in Cologne in 2019. As of January 2023, the company has over 300 employees internationally. In addition to its founders, Dr. Gebald and Wurzbacher, other board members include Dr. Ulf Berg, Dr. Martin Burkhardt, Syrie Crouch, Alfred Gantner and Dr. Maurits van Tol.

Its machines are powered by renewable energy or energy-from-waste, with a carbon dioxide re-emission rate of less than 10%.{{Cite journal |last1=Deutz |first1=Sarah |last2=Bardow |first2=André |date=February 2021 |title=Life-cycle assessment of an industrial direct air capture process based on temperature–vacuum swing adsorption |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-020-00771-9 |journal=Nature Energy |language=en |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=203–213 |bibcode=2021NatEn...6..203D |doi=10.1038/s41560-020-00771-9 |issn=2058-7546}}

During the company's development, a partnership was formed with the automaker Audi. Further support was provided by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, which enabled the accelerated commercialization and scaling of the technology.

In 2018, Climeworks raised $30.8 million in a financing round{{Cite web |title=Climeworks raises CHF 30 million to commercialize carbon dioxide removal technology |url=https://www.startupticker.ch/en/news/climeworks-raises-chf-30-million-to-commercialize-carbon-dioxide-removal-technology |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.startupticker.ch}} and $110 million in 2020.{{Cite web |title=Climeworks sets new record after a CHF 100 million investment |url=https://www.startupticker.ch/en/news/climesworks-increases-capital-to-chf-100 |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.startupticker.ch}}

On 20 July 2021, the Swiss and Icelandic governments agreed to jointly develop “negative emission technologies” which involve extracting {{CO2}} from the atmosphere and storing it underground using Climeworks and CarbFix ({{CO2}}-to-stone) technologies.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-12 |title=World's first "negative emissions" plant turns carbon dioxide into stone |url=https://qz.com/1100221/the-worlds-first-negative-emissions-plant-has-opened-in-iceland-turning-carbon-dioxide-into-stone |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Quartz |language=en}}

In April 2022, Climeworks secured $650 million in an equity funding round, marking a significant fundraising achievement in the carbon dioxide removal industry.{{Cite news |date=2022-04-05 |title=Climeworks Raises $650 Million in Largest Round for Carbon Removal Startup |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-05/climeworks-raises-650-million-in-largest-round-for-carbon-removal-startup |access-date=2023-07-27}} The funding round has classified Climeworks as a 'unicorn' startup, a term used for startups valued at over $1 billion.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-06 |title=Climeworks raises CHF 600 million |url=https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2022/04/new-eth-unicorn-climeworks-raises-chf-600-million.html |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=ethz.ch |language=en}}

Climeworks is also part of several European research and development projects,{{Cite news |date=2017-10-11 |title=From thin air to stone: greenhouse gas test starts in Iceland |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-carbon-idUSKBN1CG2D4 |access-date=2023-07-27 |work=Reuters |language=en}} including production of synthetic fuels from {{CO2}}.

In May 2017, the company opened a commercial direct air capture plant in Hinwil, Switzerland, designed to filter {{CO2}} from ambient air. It consisted of 18 collector containers that together had a nominal capture capacity of 900 tons of {{CO2}} per year. The plant was installed on the roof of a waste incineration facility that provided waste heat to power the machines. The {{CO2}} that the plant captured was sold to a nearby greenhouse operator for use as fertilizer{{Cite news |date=2017-05-31 |title=Swiss Pickles Set to Benefit From First Carbon Capture Plant |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-31/swiss-pickles-set-to-benefit-from-first-carbon-capture-plant |access-date=2023-07-27}} and to Coca-Cola HBC to produce the sparkling water Valser.{{Cite web |title=Coca-Cola Chooses Climeworks to Capture CO2 to Sparkle its Valser Water |url=https://www.venturelab.swiss/CocaCola-Chooses-Climeworks-to-Capture-CO2-to-Sparkle-its-Valser-Water |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.venturelab.swiss |language=en}} The Hinwil facility stopped its operations in October 2022, as Climeworks pivoted from selling {{CO2}} to storing the greenhouse gas permanently underground.{{Cite web |last=Calma |first=Justine |date=2022-10-20 |title=Climeworks closes a chapter in early carbon removal tech |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/20/23414385/climeworks-carbon-removal-direct-air-capture-plant-capricorn-hinwil-switzerland |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}

In October 2017, the demo project “CarbFix2” followed. As part of the Horizon 2020 research project, the CarbFix2 project at the Hellisheiði Power Station in Iceland filtered {{CO2}} from the air with Climeworks technology, which was then stored underground in Iceland's basaltic rock, where it mineralizes.

In September 2021, Climeworks launched “Orca”, a large direct air capture and storage facility, with a nominal capture capacity of up to 4,000 tons of {{CO2}} per year.{{Cite news |date=2021-09-09 |title=World's biggest machine capturing carbon from air turned on in Iceland |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/09/worlds-biggest-plant-to-turn-carbon-dioxide-into-rock-opens-in-iceland-orca |access-date=2023-07-27 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{Cite news |date=2021-09-08 |title=World's Largest Carbon-Sucking Plant Starts Making Tiny Dent in Emissions |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-09-08/inside-the-world-s-largest-direct-carbon-capture-plant |access-date=2023-07-27 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} Like the pilot project CarbFix2, the operating facility is located near the Hellisheiði Power Station, which provides geothermal energy to run the Orca plant, and the air-captured {{CO2}} is stored underground by Climeworks’ storage partner Carbfix.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-16 |title=Carbon capture: 'The road to gigatonne capacity is an ambitious journey' |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business/carbon-capture---the-road-to-gigatonne-capacity-is-an-ambitious-journey-/47902536 |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en}}

In May 2024, Climeworks launched "Mammoth", its largest direct air capture and storage facility to date. Located in Hellisheiði, Iceland, this plant is the 18th project undertaken by Climeworks and its second facility designed for commercial direct air capture and storage. Utilizing direct air capture (DAC) technology and Iceland's geothermal energy, Mammoth has the capacity to capture up to 36,000 tons of {{CO2}} annually{{Cite news |last=Abnett |first=Kate |date=2022-06-29 |title=Climate tech firm to launch scaled-up plant sucking CO2 from air |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/sustainable-business/climate-tech-firm-launch-scaled-up-plant-sucking-co2-air-2022-06-28/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |work=Reuters |language=en}} The {{CO2}} captured at this facility is mineralized and stored underground in basalt formations through a collaboration with Carbfix.{{Cite web |title=The World's Biggest Carbon Removal Plant Comes Online in Iceland |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-08/in-iceland-world-s-biggest-carbon-removal-plant-run-by-climeworks-comes-online |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=www.bloomberg.com}}

Climeworks operates commercial direct air capture facilities and provides carbon dioxide removal services to both companies and individuals.{{Cite web |date=2021-11-08 |title=Air-scrubbing machines gain momentum, but long way to go |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/air-scrubbing-machines-gain-momentum-but-long-way-to-go |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=PBS NewsHour |language=en-us}}

Several corporations have purchased Climeworks’ carbon dioxide removal, including Stripe,{{Cite web |title=Stripe takes carbon removal investment commitment to $15m as LGT signs deal with ClimeWorks - edie |url=https://www.edie.net/stripe-takes-carbon-removal-investment-commitment-to-15m-as-lgt-signs-deal-with-climeworks/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.edie.net |language=en-GB}} Microsoft,{{Cite news |date=2021-01-28 |title=Microsoft Climate Fund Backs Climeworks Effort to Suck Up Carbon |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-28/microsoft-climate-fund-backs-climeworks-effort-to-suck-up-carbon |access-date=2023-07-27 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} Swiss Re,{{Cite news |last=Orru |first=Mauro |title=Swiss Re, Climeworks Strike 10-Year Carbon-Removal Deal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/swiss-re-climeworks-strike-10-year-carbon-removal-deal-11629913559 |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=WSJ |language=en-US}} and BCG.{{Cite news |date=2021-12-09 |title=Boston Consulting teams up with carbon capture technology company |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/boston-consulting-teams-up-with-carbon-capture-technology-company-2021-12-09/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |work=Reuters |language=en}} As of February 2023, the number of individuals who have subscribed to Climeworks’ carbon dioxide removal service exceeds 18,000.

In September 2024, Climeworks signed an agreement with British Airways to remove some of the airline's {{CO2}} emissions.{{Cite web |last=gasworld |date=2024-09-23 |title=Climeworks partners with British Airways to scale carbon removal efforts |url=https://www.gasworld.com/story/climeworks-partners-with-british-airways-to-scale-carbon-removal-efforts/2144495.article/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=gasworld |language=en}}

In October 2024, Climeworks entered into a 40,000-tonne carbon dioxide removal purchase agreement with Morgan Stanley for an undisclosed price.{{cite news |last=Brown |first=H. Claire |date=October 24, 2024 |title=Climeworks Strikes 40,000-Ton Carbon Removal Deal With Morgan Stanley |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/climeworks-strikes-40-000-ton-carbon-removal-deal-with-morgan-stanley-952caa14 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |work=The Wall Street Journal |publisher=News Corp}}

Climeworks was among Fast Company's "World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024."{{Cite web |title=THE WORLD'S MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES OF 2024 |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/most-innovative-companies/list |access-date=May 22, 2024 |website=fastcompany.com}} It has also been included in Time's 2024 list of influential companies.{{Cite magazine |last=Lindzon |first=Jared |date=2024-05-30 |title=TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2024: Climeworks |url=https://time.com/6979915/climeworks/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}

Climeworks' carbon dioxide removal service received a 5/5-star rating in the CarbonPlan database.{{Cite web |title=CDR Database – CarbonPlan |url=https://carbonplan.org/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=carbonplan.org}}

In June 2021, Climeworks and DNV developed and validated a new methodology focusing on direct air capture, marking a step towards full third-party certification.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-16 |title=Achievement for Climeworks' direct air capture plant |url=https://sustainabilitymag.com/sustainability/achievement-climeworks-direct-air-capture-plant |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=sustainabilitymag.com |language=en}} In September 2022, Climeworks and Carbfix introduced a methodology dedicated to carbon dioxide removal through direct air capture and underground mineralization storage.{{Cite web |last=George |first=Violet |date=2022-09-19 |title=Climeworks & Carbfix Get Approval For DAC+S Certification |url=https://carbonherald.com/climeworks-carbfix-dnv-approval-dacs-certification-methodology/ |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=Carbon Herald |language=en-US}} This methodology has been validated by the certification body DNV.

{{See also|Direct air capture#Environmentalist opposition}}

Climeworks has been criticized for capt­ur­ing only a fracti­on of the CO₂ it promises its machines can capt­ure. As reported by the Icelandic newspaper Heimildin, Climeworks' data from 2023 shows it is not off­seting the em­issi­ons resulting from its own operati­ons.{{Cite web |last=Alexandersson |first=Bjartmar Oddur Þeyr |last2=Grettisson |first2=Valur |date=2025-05-15 |title=Climeworks’ capture fails to cover its own emissions |url=https://heimildin.is/grein/24581/ |access-date=2025-05-31 |website=Heimildin}}

• Carbon capture and storage
• Hellisheiði Power Station
• EDL Anlagenbau Gesellschaft

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite book|author=National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine|title=Negative Emissions Technologies and Reliable Sequestration: A Research Agenda|year=2019|doi=10.17226/25259|pmid=31120708|isbn=978-0-309-48452-7|s2cid=134196575|publisher=National Academies Press|url=https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/25259/negative-emissions-technologies-and-reliable-sequestration-a-research-agenda}}

• {{Official website}}

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 2009

Category:Swiss companies established in 2009

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Zurich

Category:Corporate spin-offs

Category:Direct air capture