Project Jacaranda in Kenya
Our DAC technology is deployed to Kenya, with an initial 500 tons of capture capacity in 2025 that we incrementally scale to 5,000 tons in 2026 and 350,000 tons in 2029.
Building in Kenya
Once CO2 is emitted into the air, it quickly mixes with the rest of the atmosphere, resulting in similar CO2 concentrations worldwide.
This presents an opportunity for Direct Air Capture, which can then be deployed anywhere in the world.
We chose Kenya because of its exceptional fundamentals for DAC.
Clean energy
Kenya has an abundance of clean energy. Its grid is already 93% renewable, and many geothermal power providers with permits that are not being exploited due to insufficient demand for the energy.
Ideal for CO2 storage
Kenya has the ideal geology for subsurface mineralization and Cella, our storage partner, is already on site.
Government support
The Kenya Government is very supportive, as they understand the economic benefit for their communities, and helps project developers deliver in record time.
Strong co-benefits for local communities in Kenya
We are inspired by Kenyan leaders like James Mwangi, who,
in his TED talk, highlights the multi-dimensional co-benefits of operating Direct Air Capture plants in Kenya, while advocating for a future where the country leads in the climate transition.
The Co-benefits
Access to Affordable Energy
Integrating DAC plants with Kenya’s geothermal energy potential can help drive down energy costs. Currently, more than a quarter of the population lacks access to electricity, and those who do often pay high prices. By creating a stable demand for renewable energy through DAC plants, energy prices can be lowered, making electricity more affordable for local communities.
Economic Growth and Industrial Development
High energy prices in Kenya deter industrial investment, creating a feedback loop that perpetuates high costs. Introducing energy-intensive DAC technology can break this loop by ensuring stable demand for electricity, which can attract industries, create jobs, and stimulate economic growth.
Increased Renewable Energy Investments
The presence of DAC plants can justify and attract investments in expanding renewable energy infrastructure. This would not only support the DAC operations but also provide a business case for improving and extending energy access to millions of people.
Empowering Local Workforce and Innovation
We think Kenya is one of the best places in the world for Direct Air Capture. First, it has an abundance of renewable energy. It's grid is already 90%+ renewable, and they have an excess of geothermal energy.
Establishing DAC plants can inspire and engage Africa’s young and rapidly growing workforce. This can lead to the development of a new generation of climate innovators and solution builders, leveraging local talent to address global climate challenges.
Environmental Stewardship and Global Leadership
Africa has the potential to lead the world in climate action, not just as a victim of climate change but as a proactive agent of change. Implementing DAC technologies in Kenya can position the continent as a leader in climate innovation and environmental stewardship, contributing significantly to global efforts to mitigate climate change.
Capture capacity that scales
Our pilot plant will be operational in Dec 2024, and will commercially launch in 2025. We then incrementally scale to 1,000,000 tpy by 2030.
Our operational model focuses on deploying modular technology to a single plant.
We start by deploying a small number of modules and then gradually add more as we manufacture them.
This approach allows us to start quickly and scale to very large sizes without the operational burden of building and managing multiple plants.
Roadmap
- Phase 0
2024Pilot plant - We are deployed in Kenya to conduct our first tests and gather valuable data from the field. - Phase 1
2025500 tons Commercial launch - Our first production container will start operations. - Phase 2
20265,000 tpy Initial scale up - We add 9 more containers. - Phase 3
202725,000 tpy We add 40 more containers. - Phase 4
2028100,000 tpy We add 160 more containers. - Phase 5
2029350,000 tpy We add 540 more containers. - Phase 6
20301,000,000 tpyMegaton scale - We add 1460 more containers to reach megaton scale.
