Minister Of Energy Prince Abdulaziz Launches Riyadh's First Direct Air Capture Unit At KAPSARC

On Sunday, Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz launched Climeworks' first Direct Air Capture (DAC) testing unit at KAPSARC in Riyadh. This mobile unit is now functional, capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air. It tests Climeworks' technology in the region's hot climate. This launch highlights Saudi Arabia's leadership in advancing Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) solutions and its commitment to global climate goals.

The DAC unit aims to test its performance in high-temperature conditions, unlike Climeworks' usual operations in cooler climates like Iceland. This will offer valuable insights into deploying this technology across Saudi Arabia and similar regions globally. The initiative is part of a broader feasibility study following a Memorandum of Understanding between KAPSARC and Climeworks at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in December 2024.

Saudi Arabia is strategically positioned to lead DAC deployment due to its abundant renewable energy resources, world-class infrastructure, and strategic location. By leveraging these advantages, the Kingdom can support scalable, cost-effective carbon removal and drive industrial-scale deployment. This aligns with Saudi Arabia's strategic drive towards achieving net-zero emissions.

KAPSARC plays a crucial role as the Kingdom’s leading energy think tank, contributing to national climate and carbon management strategies. With expertise in carbon capture, techno-economic modeling, and climate policy analysis, KAPSARC is an ideal partner for piloting advanced climate technologies under realistic conditions.

The collaboration between KAPSARC and Climeworks highlights significant economic opportunities associated with scaling DAC technologies within Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom plans to capture and utilize up to 44 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2035 through large-scale CCUS hubs. These hubs will consolidate industrial emissions for permanent storage or conversion into valuable products.

This demonstration is one of many steps Saudi Arabia is taking to advance carbon management solutions. The ongoing DAC study assesses the potential to localize critical materials and components, reinforcing opportunities 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.

Hosting the DAC testing unit within KAPSARC underscores the center’s role as a leader in energy research. It reinforces Saudi Arabia's contribution to achieving long-term climate goals through cost-effective, industrial-scale carbon removal efforts.

With inputs from SPA