Saudi Arabia has launched a live demonstration of Climeworks’ Direct Air Capture (DAC) unit at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) in Riyadh, marking a key step in the country’s evaluation of carbon removal technologies under extreme climate conditions.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Energy, the pilot aims to assess the feasibility of operating DAC systems in hot and arid environments, distinct from the cooler climates—such as Iceland—where Climeworks typically operates. The testing unit, now operational, captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere and provides data to support potential wider deployment across the region.
The unit was inaugurated during an event held on 27 July, attended by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy. The launch is part of a broader effort by Saudi Arabia to explore carbon management technologies in line with its Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) framework and its goal to reach net-zero emissions.
KAPSARC, which hosts the testing facility, is contributing expertise in carbon capture, climate policy, and economic modelling to support the evaluation. The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed between Climeworks and KAPSARC during the Saudi Green Initiative Forum in December 2024.
The DAC demonstration is part of a feasibility study led by the Ministry of Energy to assess the viability of DAC deployment across Saudi Arabia. It also explores the localisation of materials and supply chains necessary for broader adoption.
Saudi Arabia has previously announced its intention to capture and utilise up to 44 million tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2035 through the establishment of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) hubs. These planned hubs in the Eastern and Western regions aim to consolidate industrial emissions and support permanent storage or conversion of CO₂ into usable products.
The outcome of the DAC pilot will inform future policy and investment decisions, particularly around scaling up carbon removal technologies in high-temperature environments.
