Saudi Arabia Deploys First Carbon Removal Unit, Tests Climeworks’ DAC Technology at KAPSARC

Saudi Arabia has taken a significant step toward advancing carbon removal technologies, as Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman inaugurated the country’s first Direct Air Capture (DAC) testing unit.

Developed by Swiss climate tech company Climeworks, the mobile DAC system has been deployed at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh.

The operational unit captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, marking a critical moment for Climeworks, which has previously limited deployments to cooler climates such as Iceland. This installation is the company’s first test of its DAC technology under the extreme heat and arid conditions of the Middle East, offering valuable insights into the system’s performance in high-temperature environments.

The initiative strengthens Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) framework, demonstrating its focus on scalable, science-based climate solutions. Hosting the DAC unit at KAPSARC also reflects the center’s growing role in the Kingdom’s climate and energy transition. With expertise in techno-economic modeling, carbon policy, and carbon capture research, KAPSARC is a key player in Saudi Arabia’s net-zero ambitions.

The demonstration forms part of a broader feasibility study, launched under a memorandum of understanding signed between KAPSARC and Climeworks during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in December 2024. The study explores opportunities to expand DAC deployment across the country while evaluating the potential for localising materials and components essential to carbon removal systems. This could ultimately lay the foundation for a domestic carbon removal supply chain.

Saudi Arabia has set an ambitious national goal to capture and utilise up to 44 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2035. Large-scale Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) hubs are being planned in both the Eastern and Western provinces to consolidate industrial emissions and channel them into long-term storage or conversion into commercially viable products.

Officials say the country is uniquely positioned to lead the next generation of carbon removal technologies, with abundant renewable energy, robust infrastructure, and a strategic geographic location. By aligning industrial-scale decarbonisation with Vision 2030’s economic diversification goals, the Kingdom is aiming to transform itself into a global hub for climate innovation and sustainable technology.