Industrial activities, from electricity generation to cement production, are responsible for emitting huge amounts of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide ( CO₂). What can we do about these ever-increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the world, especially those emissions produced by industry? How about injecting it into the ground, where it turns to stone and is stored forever? That sounds far-fetched but it is actually a natural process that already happens on earth.
Researchers have pioneered a groundbreaking technology to remove CO₂ at the source, such as from a factory chimney, dissolve it in water and then inject it into deep lava layers where it reacts with minerals and turns into rock, preventing it from escaping back into the atmosphere.
The project was centred at the giant Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland, one of the largest in the world. The plant harnesses volcanic heat to generate electricity and provide hot water for much of the country’s population. Continuous capture of CO₂ emissions from the steam emitted by the plant has been ongoing since 2014. A company was founded shortly after the project was completed, in order to bring the technology to market.
The project featured in ‘Down to Earth’, a Netflix travel show exploring healthy and sustainable ways to live, and has also been featured on the BBC, HBO, National Geographic and more.
Starting in 2025, CO₂ captured at industrial sites in northern Europe will be shipped to a cross-border carbon transport and storage hub in Iceland before being injected into the ground.
Reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is vital for Europe to become climate-neutral by 2050.
This technology could lead to more climate-friendly industries and help meet climate targets.