Climate Tech Startup Announces Groundbreaking Carbon Removal Facility
In a major breakthrough for carbon removal technology, climate-tech startup Spiritus has announced plans to build the world's first commercial-scale 'Carbon Orchard' direct air capture (DAC) facility in Central Wyoming. The ambitious project, called Orchard One, is designed to capture and sequester up to 2 megatons of carbon dioxide annually starting in 2026, representing a quantum leap in the scale of atmospheric carbon removal.
Revolutionary Technology and Capacity
The facility will utilize Spiritus's proprietary sorbent technology that fundamentally changes the material science behind carbon capture. Unlike traditional energy-intensive chemical processes, the company's innovative approach uses a more passive, high-efficiency filter array system. 'Our Carbon Orchard technology represents a paradigm shift in direct air capture,' said Dr. Evelyn Nakamura, Chief Technology Officer at Spiritus. 'By replacing conventional chemical processes with our novel sorbent materials, we've achieved a tenfold reduction in costs while doubling capture efficiency.'
The 2-megaton annual capacity represents a massive scale-up from current DAC facilities. For comparison, the largest operational DAC plant today, Climeworks' Mammoth facility in Iceland, captures approximately 36,000 tons annually. Orchard One would capture more than 55 times that amount, making it the largest carbon removal facility in the world upon completion.
Energy Efficiency and Cost Breakthrough
Perhaps the most significant aspect of the announcement is the projected cost reduction. Spiritus aims to achieve carbon removal at under $100 per ton, representing a 90% reduction from the current industry average of approximately $1,000 per ton. This breakthrough is achieved through several key innovations:
First, the company's novel structured sorbent materials housed in modular cubes increase surface contact with CO₂, reducing capture time by at least half. Second, the system's energy consumption has been dramatically reduced through passive capture mechanisms that require less thermal energy for regeneration. 'Achieving the $100 per ton threshold is the holy grail for making DAC economically viable for global scale deployment,' explained Nakamura. 'At this price point, carbon removal transitions from a niche premium service to a globally scalable climate solution capable of removing billions of tons of legacy CO₂ from the atmosphere.'
Financing Structure and Commercial Backing
The project has secured $30 million in Series A funding led by Aramco Ventures, with participation from Khosla Ventures, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, and TDK Ventures. This significant investment demonstrates strong confidence in the technology's commercial viability.
The financing structure combines venture capital with forward purchase agreements from major carbon credit buyers. Frontier (founded by Stripe, Alphabet, Shopify, Meta and McKinsey), Watershed, and Terraset have already committed to pre-purchase carbon removal credits from the facility. Additionally, the project will leverage the enhanced Section 45Q Carbon Capture Tax Credit, which provides up to $180 per metric ton for geological storage.
'The combination of venture funding, forward purchase agreements, and government incentives creates a robust financial model that de-risks the project,' said a spokesperson from Aramco Ventures. 'This multi-layered approach demonstrates how innovative financing can accelerate climate technology deployment.'
Geological Storage and Environmental Impact
The captured carbon dioxide will be permanently sequestered in underground rock formations in Wyoming, utilizing proven geological storage technology. The 2-megaton annual removal capacity is equivalent to taking approximately 340,000 pickup trucks off the road each year.
The project site in Central Wyoming was selected for its ideal geological conditions and access to renewable energy sources. 'Wyoming offers perfect conditions for both carbon capture and storage,' noted Nakamura. 'The state's geology provides secure underground storage capacity, while its wind resources can power our operations with clean energy.'
Industry Context and Future Outlook
The announcement comes at a time when the carbon capture industry is experiencing rapid growth. According to recent data, carbon capture technologies have reached commercial scale in 2025 with operational capacity hitting 50 million tons annually, representing a 15% year-on-year increase. Investments in the sector have tripled since 2022 to reach $6.4 billion.
Spiritus is also developing a 1,000-ton pilot facility in New Mexico, scheduled to begin operations in the second half of 2025. This smaller-scale project will serve as a testing ground for the technology before the full-scale Wyoming facility comes online.
The company's international expansion plans include partnerships with Aramco for deployment in the Middle East, demonstrating the global potential of their technology. As climate concerns intensify and carbon removal becomes increasingly essential for meeting net-zero targets, innovations like Spiritus's Carbon Orchard represent critical steps toward scalable climate solutions.
For more information on direct air capture technology, visit Wikipedia's DAC page. Details about current DAC projects can be found at Climeworks and Climate Insider.