Avantium Partners with Climeworks to Advance Direct Air Capture Technology

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Avantium and Climeworks collaborate to scale Direct Air Capture technology with a new high-throughput testing facility aimed at enhancing CO2 removal efficiency (Image Source: X/@Climeworks)
Avantium and Climeworks collaborate to scale Direct Air Capture technology with a new high-throughput testing facility aimed at enhancing CO2 removal efficiency (Image Source: X/@Climeworks)

Avantium N.V., a leading company in renewable and circular polymer materials, has announced a strategic agreement with Climeworks AG, a pioneer in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. With this partnership, Climeworks will acquire another state-of-the-art high-throughput adsorption testing facility from Avantium R&D Solutions, signifying a substantial broad-scale breakthrough in DAC technology. By removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere permanently, this collaboration aims to speed up efforts to stop climate change.

Innovative Testing Unit to Enhance DAC Technology

Climeworks, in collaboration with Carbfix, employs DAC technology to extract CO2 from the atmosphere and safely store it underground in Iceland. For the testing of chemicals and materials, Avantium R&D Solutions offers top-notch research and development services. The two companies have recently developed a custom-built, high-throughput adsorption testing unit designed for Climeworks’ DAC application. The testing unit improves CO2 adsorption material testing efficiency, helping develop more cost-effective DAC systems for carbon capture.

Cost-Efficient Testing and Enhanced Performance

The advanced testing unit has already shown significant benefits, including a 25-fold reduction in sample mass and gas consumption. This results in significant cost savings, especially in gas consumption, which is vital for R&D teams using smaller samples.

The breakthrough design also ensures better comparability between reactors, as all samples are measured sequentially using the same sensors. With an impressive uptime of 98% throughout 2024, the testing unit has proven reliable, with downtimes limited to routine maintenance. The unit’s reliability helps Climeworks scale DAC technology, improve quality control, and accelerate CO2 capture solution development and deployment.

Also read: Avantium Secures €3.5 Million EU Grant for ICONIC CO2 Conversion Project

Partnership to Drive Global Deployment of DAC Systems

Jan Wurzbacher, Co-CEO and co-founder of Climeworks, said, “This agreement enables us to take a significant step forward in building out a testing environment of industrial quality and expanding our high-quality supplier ecosystem. Avantium’s high-throughput adsorption testing unit will enhance our ability to develop and test new materials and accelerate the deployment of our DAC systems on a global scale.”

The Avantium-Climeworks partnership is a key milestone in scaling Direct Air Capture technology to help fight climate change.

TotalEnergies and GSPC Sign 10-Year LNG Supply Agreement

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TotalEnergies will supply 400,000 tons of LNG per year to GSPC, fueling India's industries, households, and CNG vehicles starting in 2026.
TotalEnergies to supply 400,000 tons of LNG per year to GSPC, fueling India's industries, households, and CNG vehicles starting in 2026.(Image Source: TotalEnergies)

TotalEnergies and Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (GSPC) signed a long-term Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) during a ceremony on the sidelines of the India Energy Week in New Delhi. TotalEnergies will supply GSPC with 400,000 tons of LNG per year for 10 years under the terms of the agreement, which will take effect in 2026.

LNG to Boost Industrial and Domestic Use

TotalEnergies will produce the LNG from its international portfolio and supply it to terminals on India’s west coast. The LNG will supply GSPC’s industrial clients mainly and will also fuel households, businesses, and CNG stations. The latter will power Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) running vehicles, such as auto-rickshaws.

Gregory Joffroy, Senior Vice President LNG at TotalEnergies, “We are delighted to have been chosen by GSPC to supply them with LNG in India. This new deal underscores TotalEnergies’ leadership in the LNG domain and commitment to India’s energy transition and security of supply.”

Supporting GSPC’s Strategic Growth

The deal is consistent with GSPC’s long-term competitive LNG strategy. GSPC’s managing director, Milind Torawane, underlined the significance of the agreement, saying it was a major step in bolstering the company’s long-term goal to secure cheap LNG. He explained that the agreement would help bridge the growing natural gas demand-supply gap in Gujarat and across India.

Partnering with TotalEnergies, one of the largest LNG players globally, aligned with GSPC’s strategy to build its long-term portfolio and become a leading Indian player in gas trading. He further mentioned that the deal would strengthen GSPC’s portfolio and its operations in the gas value chain by leveraging the company’s transmission and distribution infrastructure.

The transaction will bridge Gujarat’s gas demand-supply gap, enhancing GSPC’s portfolio and business in the value chain of gas. Besides, the transaction will utilize GSPC Group’s existing transmission and distribution network to increase the country’s energy security.

Also read: TotalEnergies and STMicroelectronics Announce 15-Year Power Purchase Agreement for Renewables in France

With increasing speed, India is transitioning in terms of its energy. A central component to India’s transition is natural gas. Natural gas is a clean solution for the industry, the kitchen, and transport, assisting in cleaning the air across India.