{"id":44508,"date":"2022-05-20T08:45:53","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T06:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/?p=44508"},"modified":"2025-12-12T00:38:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T23:38:54","slug":"engineering-projects-trapping-co2-from-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ferrovial.com\/blog\/en\/2022\/05\/engineering-projects-trapping-co2-from-air\/","title":{"rendered":"Major engineering projects for trapping CO2 from the air"},"content":{"rendered":"

More than two centuries ago, humanity began to use steam power, turning that energy into force to then move other machines<\/strong>. The industry gradually replaced artisans, and much of the planet was filled with factories, new goods, and new riches. But growth also came at a cost.<\/p>\n

Since the first Industrial Revolution, human activity has emitted billions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Today, we know that the frenetic activity<\/strong> that began two centuries ago is the main cause of climate change. We also know that it\u2019s necessary to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, and to do so as fast as possible.<\/p>\n

One of the solutions is to create machines that can capture<\/strong> and transform it. For the first time in history, factories will start eliminating it instead of producing it. Engineering and construction have a lot to offer to make this happen.<\/p>\n

Machines to curb climate change<\/h2>\n

The sixth and final report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) leaves no room for doubt<\/a>: there is a need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible. To keep the temperature from rising more than 1.5\u00b0C by the end of the century compared to the pre-industrial era, emissions must be drastically reduced<\/strong> starting in 2025. If the current pace continues, by 2100, the temperature will be 3.2\u00b0C higher than in the 18th century.<\/p>\n

Reducing emissions is a complicated task. And that\u2019s not all: it\u2019s estimated that, once added to the atmosphere, CO2 can stay there for anywhere from 300 to 1,000 years<\/a><\/strong>. To really curb climate change, we must reduce the amount of gases we\u2019ve released over the past decades (and even centuries).<\/p>\n

\"Blue
\nBlue sky in the city. Mariano Baraldi (Unsplash)<\/em><\/p>\n

There are different ways to capture CO2<\/a> from the air. One of them is linked to nature and is based on planting trees, restoring forests and other ecosystems, and keeping soils healthy<\/strong> and in good condition. This encourages natural CO2 absorption.<\/p>\n

Another solution proposed by the IPCC has a technological foundation. It\u2019s based on developing machines<\/strong> that can capture gases and transform them to give them a second life (in the form of raw materials) or return them to nature.<\/p>\n

This is already a reality<\/strong>, and there are different initiatives in the form of facilities that capture CO2 from the air. The largest and most effective one is located on the outskirts of Reykjavik, Iceland.<\/p>\n

Filters, containers, and underground pipes<\/h2>\n

Orca<\/a> is the world\u2019s first large-scale carbon dioxide removal plant. This is an initiative by Climeworks<\/a>, a company that aims to develop innovative technology<\/strong> to curb climate change.<\/p>\n

Currently, Orca has the capacity to capture 4000 tons of CO2 per year<\/strong>. It does so with a large system that consists of eight collector containers, filters, and pumping systems.<\/p>\n

\"Orca
\nOrca facilities in Iceland. Climeworks.<\/em><\/p>\n

As Climeworks explains, the air enters the containers, where there are filters treated with a chemical that can isolate and trap CO2. The rest of the particles in the air are pushed through by a fan.<\/p>\n

When the filters are full, the container compartment closes. At that point, heat is emitted until the temperature reaches 80\u00b0C or even 100\u00b0C<\/strong>, encouraging the release of carbon dioxide. Finally, this CO2 is pumped to another area where it is stored. Once all this is done, the process starts over.<\/p>\n