Climeworks, a Swiss direct air capture (DAC) startup, has unveiled its Generation 3 DAC technology, which offers breakthrough improvements in efficiency and performance for megaton-scale CO2 removal.

The Generation 3 technology uses novel structured sorbent materials that replace the packed filter beds used in previous technology generations. The new structures increase surface contact with CO2, reducing the time it takes to capture CO2 from the air and significantly increasing the release of CO2 for storage when heated.

The new solution doubles the CO2 capture capacity per module, cuts energy consumption in half, and extends material life, reducing costs by 50%.

The company aims to cut total costs in half by 2030, targeting USD 250–350 per ton captured and USD 400–600 per ton net removal.

Generation 3 technology was first implemented at full scale in June 2024 at Climeworks' largest DAC test facility in Switzerland. It will first be deployed in Louisiana as part of the US Department of Energy's megaton-scale Project Cypress DAC Hub, with construction expected to begin in 2026.

Analyst QuickTake: The company’s launch of Generation 3 technology follows the launch of Mammoth—its second DAC plant and the world’s largest DAC plant to date—in May 2024 . The new plant captures up to 36,000 tons of CO2 per annum and is 9x larger than its predecessor plant, Orca (which captured 4,000 tons of CO2 per annum).