CO2 Energie AG, Airfix and South Pole launch largest biomass carbon removal and storage project in Switzerland

Switzerland has set the ambitious target of net-zero emissions by 2050. However, not all emissions can be avoided completely. This means that technologies that capture CO? and store them on a long-term basis are required.

To overcome this challenge, the company CO2 Energie AG, the project developer Airfix and the climate company South Pole – with the contribution of carbon capture pioneers Carbon Impact – have started a ground-breaking project for CO? capture and geological storage. The project is set to become the largest of its kind in Switzerland to date with 21,800 tonnes of CO? to be removed over five years.

CO? capture and storage: How the project works

CO2 Energie AG is planning to install a system that captures and liquefies CO? at a biogas plant close to Zurich. This will involve the annual capture and subsequent conversion of ~4360 tonnes of CO? emissions directly at their point of origin. This is the second carbon capture project for CO2 Energie AG, who are further expanding their business in the CO? recycling sector. The first system installed is already capturing CO?, which is then supplied to the Swiss gas market and recycled, replacing fossil CO?.?

With this second system, CO2 Energie AG is going an important step further by producing negative emissions for the first time: after capture, the liquefied CO? is transported to a geological storage site in northern Europe by truck, train and ship, where it can be stored permanently.?

South Pole’s subsidiary Airfix plays a key role in ensuring that the CO? supply chain runs smoothly. Airfix specialises in the coordination and grouping of services for CO? transport and CO? storage.

Creating a market for CO? capture: How the project's measurement, evaluation and monetisation works

In order to standardise the climate value of CO? capture, transport and storage, South Pole is developing a climate project in line with the specifications of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). An important milestone in the implementation of the project was recently achieved: The Swiss Climate Cent Foundation will guarantee the purchase of CO? certificates from this project for an initial value of CHF 10 million until 2030.

This pioneering project in negative emissions technologies (NETs) marks a first step for Airfix and South Pole in their vision of creating a market for negative emissions from Biomass and scaling it using innovative climate financing. Thanks to its foothold in the biogas and energy market, CO2 Energie AG is a strong partner for advancing NET projects.

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The complete capture and liquefaction system is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. This marks an important milestone in the implementation of the project.

Link to the original article: https://www.airfixcarbon.com/article/co2-energie-ag-south-pole-and-airfix-launch-largest-biomass-carbon-removal-and-storage-project-in-switzerland/