This incredible tech could make ACs obsolete and finally solve Global Warming forever

  e-tech-could-make-acs-obsolete-and-finally-solve-global-warming-forever.html
  Science and Technology on Sat, Oct 18th, 2025 by Neowin

Direct Air Capture Faces Potential Disruption from Novel Mineral Carbonation Technology

A recent Neowin.net article highlights a potentially transformative technology that could significantly alter the landscape of carbon capture and storage (CCS), possibly rendering current approaches like Advanced CCS (ACS) obsolete while offering a permanent solution to global warming. The core innovation revolves around accelerated mineral carbonation, specifically utilizing silicate rocks – abundant globally – to permanently sequester atmospheric CO2.

The article centers on research conducted by CarbonCapture Inc., a company founded in 2019 and based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Their approach diverges from traditional CCS methods which often involve capturing CO2 and storing it underground as a liquid or gas. While these methods can reduce emissions, they face challenges including potential leakage risks, high energy consumption for capture and transport, and limited geological storage capacity.

CarbonCapture’s process mimics natural weathering – the slow breakdown of rocks by atmospheric carbon dioxide and water – but dramatically accelerates it. Silicate minerals like olivine and serpentine, found in vast quantities in volcanic regions and ultramafic rock formations worldwide, react with CO2 to form stable carbonate minerals. This reaction effectively turns greenhouse gas into solid rock, permanently removing it from the atmosphere.

The Neowin article emphasizes the efficiency gains achieved by CarbonCapture. Their system utilizes a proprietary process that involves grinding silicate rocks into fine powder and exposing them to atmospheric air and water. The company claims their technology can capture CO2 at a cost of $30-$50 per ton, significantly lower than the estimated $600 - $1200 per ton range often associated with ACS technologies like direct air capture (DAC) plants utilizing amine solvents. This cost reduction is attributed to several factors including the abundance and low cost of silicate rocks, reduced energy requirements compared to traditional DAC, and the elimination of long-term storage concerns.

The article details CarbonCapture’s pilot project in Squamish, British Columbia, which began operations in 2022. The facility utilizes olivine sourced from a nearby quarry and aims to capture approximately 850 tons of CO2 annually. According to CarbonCapture's website, the pilot plant is currently operating at full scale and demonstrating the viability of their technology. https://carboncaptureinc.com/our-technology/ The site provides further technical details including a schematic diagram illustrating the process flow: rock grinding, CO2 absorption, and carbonate mineral formation.

The potential scale of this solution is immense. The Earth’s crust contains an estimated 10^18 tons of silicate rocks capable of reacting with atmospheric CO2. This represents significantly more than the total amount of CO2 currently in the atmosphere (approximately 40 billion tons). The Neowin article highlights that widespread deployment of this technology could theoretically remove all excess CO2 from the atmosphere over a period of decades, effectively reversing climate change.

The process isn't without its challenges. Mining and grinding silicate rocks requires energy and generates dust, necessitating careful environmental management. While water is essential for the reaction, CarbonCapture claims their system can operate using saline or wastewater sources, minimizing freshwater consumption concerns. The formation of carbonate minerals also produces heat, which needs to be managed effectively. Furthermore, the speed of mineral carbonation is influenced by factors like particle size, temperature, and humidity, requiring optimization for different geographical locations.

The article contrasts CarbonCapture’s approach with other emerging CCS technologies, including bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and ocean-based carbon removal methods. While these approaches also hold promise, they face their own limitations regarding scalability, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness. BECCS, for example, relies on sustainable biomass sources which are limited, while ocean-based solutions raise concerns about potential disruption to marine ecosystems.

CarbonCapture has secured partnerships with several organizations including Microsoft and the Canadian government, demonstrating growing interest in this technology. The company is currently planning larger-scale deployments of its mineral carbonation facilities across North America and beyond. The Neowin article concludes that if CarbonCapture’s technology can be successfully scaled up and deployed globally, it could represent a pivotal breakthrough in the fight against climate change, offering a permanent and cost-effective solution to remove excess CO2 from the atmosphere and potentially render existing ACS approaches redundant.

https://carboncaptureinc.com/press-release/carboncapture-announces-first-commercial-scale-mineralization-facility-in-squamish-bc/ - This link provides a press release detailing the Squamish facility and its operational status.