Top 20 Carbon Capture Companies
As the global community intensifies its efforts to combat climate change, carbon capture technology has emerged as a critical solution. This innovative approach bridges the gap between the ongoing reliance on fossil fuels and the need for sustainable practices across various industries.
In this article, we highlight 20 leading companies in the carbon capture sector, from industry giants like Microsoft and Shell to emerging players, all of whom are committed to shaping a more sustainable future.
With increasing investments and partnerships across sectors, these companies are at the forefront of carbon reduction strategies. Here are the top 20 carbon capture companies driving progress in this essential field:
20. Microsoft
Carbon Capture Technology: Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Microsoft aims to become carbon negative by 2030, committing to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while investing in carbon removal technologies. Through direct air capture (DAC), biomass carbon removal, and mineralization, Microsoft focuses on storing carbon for over 1,000 years. The company recently partnered with 1PointFive to purchase carbon removal credits, reinforcing its strategic commitment to DAC.
19. ExxonMobil
Carbon Capture Technology: Post-Combustion Capture
ExxonMobil, a leading oil and gas corporation, invests heavily in carbon capture technologies to achieve a sustainable future. In partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, ExxonMobil employs advanced post-combustion capture technology that efficiently extracts CO₂ from flue gas emissions, reducing abatement costs and enhancing their carbon capture, transportation, and storage services.
18. Air Products and Chemicals
Carbon Capture Technology: Oxy-Fuel Combustion
Air Products and Chemicals specializes in oxy-fuel combustion systems tailored for industrial applications. This technology eliminates nitrogen from combustion, leading to faster melting and reduced emissions. Their custom oxy-fuel burner systems enhance productivity and energy efficiency, particularly in metal production, showcasing their commitment to significant emissions reductions.
17. Shell
Carbon Capture Technology: Pre-Combustion Capture
Shell Catalysts & Technologies focuses on capturing CO₂ through its advanced gas-treating process, ADIP ULTRA. This process enhances CO₂ removal from flue gas, capturing up to 25% more CO₂. By partnering with organizations for transportation and sequestration, Shell actively contributes to advancing carbon capture technology in the energy sector.
16. Air Liquide
Carbon Capture Technology: Membrane Separation
Air Liquide designs and manufactures hollow fiber membranes for gas separation and purification. Its Air Liquide Advanced Separations (ALaS) technology serves various industries, including aerospace and oil and gas, enabling effective carbon dioxide removal and showcasing its commitment to innovative low-carbon solutions.
15. TotalEnergies
Carbon Capture Technology: Chemical Looping Combustion (CLC)
TotalEnergies has developed patented Chemical Looping Combustion technology to convert biomass and fossil fuels into a pure CO₂ stream for capture. The company is advancing this technology by constructing the world’s largest CLC demonstration unit in China, validating its potential for cost-effective carbon capture and supporting industry decarbonization.
14. Heidelberg Materials
Carbon Capture Technology: Calcium Looping (CaL)
Heidelberg Materials is utilizing calcium looping technology to capture CO₂ from flue gases in the cement and power industries. Committed to innovative carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies, the company plays a vital role in reducing emissions and supporting a low-carbon future.
13. BASF
Carbon Capture Technology: Ionic Liquids
BASF, the largest chemical producer globally, is researching ionic liquids for carbon capture applications. These salts exhibit unique properties suitable for CO₂ absorption. Collaborating with CogniTek Management Systems, BASF is developing heat-exchange fluids that enhance carbon capture from industrial emissions, offering a promising alternative to traditional solvents.
12. Drax Group
Carbon Capture Technology: Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
Drax Group champions BECCS as a scalable and cost-effective carbon removal technology. The company has piloted a BECCS project at its North Yorkshire power station since 2018 and plans to construct the world’s largest carbon capture facility, aiming to remove at least eight million tons of CO₂ annually. Drax collaborates with industry leaders to enhance carbon removal policies and frameworks.
11. Southern Company
Carbon Capture Technology: Cryogenic Carbon Capture (CCC)
Southern Company is pioneering cryogenic carbon capture (CCC), which uses low temperatures to separate gases, potentially reducing carbon emissions from fossil-fuelled power plants by up to 99%. The National Carbon Capture Center, operated by Southern Company, is hosting a field test of Carbon America’s FrostCC cryogenic technology, showcasing the potential of CCC for large-scale carbon capture.
10. Carbon Clean Solutions
Carbon Capture Technology: Modular Carbon Capture
Carbon Clean Solutions specializes in modular carbon capture technology that enables industries to capture CO₂ efficiently. Their patented technology utilizes advanced solvents to separate CO₂ from industrial processes, making it suitable for various applications, including cement, steel, and chemical manufacturing.
9. Climeworks
Carbon Capture Technology: Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Climeworks is a Swiss company focused on direct air capture technology. It captures CO₂ from the atmosphere using its proprietary filters, which can then be reused or stored underground. Climeworks aims to scale up its operations to capture millions of tons of CO₂ annually, supporting climate goals worldwide.
8. LanzaTech
Carbon Capture Technology: Carbon Recycling
LanzaTech specializes in carbon recycling technology, converting waste carbon emissions into valuable products like fuels and chemicals. By using microorganisms that metabolize CO₂, LanzaTech turns emissions from various industrial processes into resources, promoting a circular economy.
7. Carbon Engineering
Carbon Capture Technology: Direct Air Capture (DAC)
Carbon Engineering focuses on direct air capture technology, designed to extract CO₂ from the atmosphere efficiently. Their modular DAC systems can capture CO₂ at scale, which can then be used for various applications, including enhanced oil recovery or as a feedstock for producing low-carbon fuels.
6. NET Power
Carbon Capture Technology: Allam Cycle
NET Power has developed a groundbreaking power cycle that captures CO₂ from natural gas plants while generating electricity. This innovative Allam Cycle technology allows for significant carbon capture and utilizes the captured CO₂ for enhanced oil recovery, making it a sustainable energy solution.
5. Occidental Petroleum
Carbon Capture Technology: Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR)
Occidental Petroleum is a leader in the implementation of carbon capture technologies for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The company utilizes captured CO₂ to increase oil production, providing a dual benefit of carbon sequestration and enhanced energy recovery. Occidental aims to capture 25 million tons of CO₂ per year through its carbon capture initiatives.
4. Global CCS Institute
Carbon Capture Technology: Advisory and Advocacy
The Global CCS Institute plays a critical role in promoting carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies worldwide. By providing expert advice and advocating for policy frameworks, the Institute supports projects and initiatives aimed at advancing carbon capture as a viable solution for climate change.
3. CarbonCure Technologies
Carbon Capture Technology: CO₂ Utilization in Concrete
CarbonCure Technologies specializes in injecting captured CO₂ into concrete production, enhancing the material’s strength while permanently sequestering CO₂. This innovative approach reduces the carbon footprint of concrete and supports sustainable construction practices, showcasing the potential for CO₂ utilization in the building materials industry.
2. Svante
Carbon Capture Technology: Solid Sorbents
Svante focuses on solid sorbent technology for capturing CO₂ emissions from industrial processes. Their proprietary technology offers significant cost advantages over traditional methods, enabling efficient capture of CO₂ from cement, steel, and other sectors. Svante aims to make large-scale carbon capture economically viable.
1. Carbon Clean Solutions
Carbon Capture Technology: Modular Carbon Capture
Carbon Clean Solutions specializes in modular carbon capture technology that enables industries to capture CO₂ efficiently. Their patented technology utilizes advanced solvents to separate CO₂ from industrial processes, making it suitable for various applications, including cement, steel, and chemical manufacturing.