Press Release:
- Sponsored by Saudi Ministry of Energy, KAPSARC and Climeworks successfully launched the live demonstration of a Climeworks Direct Air Capture (DAC) testing unit, located within KAPSARC’s facilities in Riyadh.
- This demonstration reflects the Kingdom’s ambitious commitment to advancing Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) technologies, specifically Direct Air Capture (DAC). This project enables the testing of the technology’s ability to capture CO₂ from the atmosphere under hot and arid conditions, showcasing its adaptability beyond its traditional cold-climate settings like Iceland.
- The project was presented during a special event at KAPSARC attended by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
Riyadh, July 27, 2025: Sponsored by Saudi Energy Ministry, KAPSARC and Climeworks have successfully inaugurated a live demonstration of Climeworks’ Direct Air Capture (DAC) testing unit located within KAPSARC’s facilities in Riyadh. The mobile DAC unit is now operational, effectively capturing carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and validating Climeworks’ pioneering technology under the region’s hot and arid conditions.
The inauguration took place during a special event hosted by KAPSARC on July 27, attended by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy. The launch is a testament to the Kingdom’s leadership in advancing the Circular Carbon Economy, and reflects its commitment to pragmatic, scaleable solutions to achieving to global climate goals, within the Saudi national context.
The demonstration underscores Saudi Arabia’s ambitious commitment to advancing Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) technologies, particularly Direct Air Capture (DAC). A key objective of the testing unit is to evaluate its performance under harsh, high-temperature conditions, 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 within KAPSARC highlights the center’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 modeling, and climate policy analysis, KAPSARC serves as an ideal partner for piloting advanced climate technologies under realistic conditions.
The DAC unit is part of a broader feasibility assessment launched under the Ministry of Energy, 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. By capitalizing on its abundant renewable energy resources, world-class infrastructure, and strategic geographic location, Saudi Arabia is uniquely positioned to lead the deployment of DAC, leveraging its abundant energy resources and strategic capabilities to support scalable, cost effective carbon removal and drive industrial-scale deployment, and significantly contribute to the Kingdom's net-zero ambitions.
This demonstration is one of many steps the Kingdom is taking to advance carbon management solutions. Saudi Arabia has announced an ambition to capture and utilize up to 44 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2035 through the development of large-scale CCUS hubs. These hubs, planned for both the Eastern and Western regions of the country, aim to consolidate industrial emissions and enable permanent storage or conversion of CO₂ into valuable products. In parallel, the ongoing DAC study is assessing the potential to localize critical materials and components, reinforcing the opportunity for domestic supply chain development. This ambition underscores the Kingdom’s proactive role in scaling technologies that support emissions reduction while fostering industrial innovation and economic diversification.
About KAPSARC:
KAPSARC is an advisory think tank dedicated to advancing knowledge on energy, environmental, and regional economic issues. As an accredited observer to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), KAPSARC actively contributes to global climate and environmental dialogues. Its mission is to advance Saudi Arabia's energy sector and inform global policy through evidence-based advice and applied research.
For inquiries, please contact: media@kapsarc.org
About Climeworks:
Climeworks, a global leader in DAC innovation, has built over 15 facilities worldwide since its founding in 2009, including the Mammoth plant in Iceland, the world’s only commercial DAC facility featuring permanent carbon storage.
For inquiries, please contact: media@climeworks.com