Carbfix Carbon Capture and Mineralization: Patented Technology Revolutionizes Carbon Storage

What is Carbon Capture and Mineralization?

Carbon Capture and Mineralization (CCM) is a process that takes carbon dioxide (CO2), a gas responsible for global warming, and safely turns it into rock.

Here’s how it works:

1. CO2 Capture:

   • The process begins with the capture of CO2 from industrial sources, such as power plants, factories, or other emission-intensive operations. This can be done using various technologies, including direct air capture (DAC) systems or by capturing CO2 directly from flue gases.

2. Dissolution in Water:

   • The captured CO2 is dissolved in water to create a carbonated solution. This step is crucial because it makes the CO2 more reactive and easier to inject into underground formations.

3. Injection into Basaltic Rock:

   • The carbonated water is then injected into deep underground formations of basaltic rock. Basalt is a type of volcanic rock that is rich in calcium, magnesium, and iron, which are key minerals for the carbonation process.

4. Mineralization:

   • Once the carbonated water is injected, a natural chemical reaction occurs between the CO2 and the minerals in the basalt. This reaction converts the CO2 into stable carbonate minerals, such as calcite, which remain locked in the rock formation indefinitely.

This process is like nature’s way of storing CO2 safely, but much faster. It ensures that the CO2 can’t escape back into the air, helping to fight climate change by keeping the CO2 permanently out of the atmosphere.

Key Advantages of Carbfix's CCM Service:

• Permanence: The mineralization process permanently locks away CO2 in a stable form, ensuring that it cannot return to the atmosphere, unlike other storage methods that rely on gas or liquid storage.

• Safety: Mineralized CO2 is stored in solid form, reducing the risks associated with leakage, which can be a concern with traditional CO2 storage methods like underground gas storage.

• Scalability: The process can be scaled up to accommodate large volumes of CO2, making it suitable for industrial-scale applications and helping industries meet stringent emissions targets.

• Environmental Compatibility: The use of naturally occurring basaltic rock formations, which are abundant in many parts of the world, makes the process environmentally sustainable and widely applicable.

Technology and Innovation

Carbfix is a leader in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, specifically through its innovative Carbon Capture and Mineralization (CCM) process. The company transforms CO2 into solid minerals by dissolving it in water and injecting it into basaltic rock formations, where it reacts to form stable carbonates like calcite. This mineralization process, which naturally takes thousands to millions of years, is accelerated by Carbfix to occur within just two years, making it a secure and permanent solution for carbon storage.

Basalt, a volcanic rock abundant in regions like Iceland, plays a crucial role in this technology due to its ideal mineral composition. Carbfix has developed advanced infrastructure, including wells, pumps, and real-time monitoring systems, to ensure the safe and effective mineralization of CO2. The company also uses sophisticated monitoring techniques, such as seismic and chemical analysis, to verify the successful storage of CO2.

In addition to capturing CO2 from industrial sources, Carbfix is innovating in direct air capture (DAC) technology, which captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere. Integrating DAC with their mineralization process offers a powerful tool for large-scale CO2 removal from the atmosphere.

Intellectual Property and Patents

Carbfix has secured patents for several aspects of its technology, particularly related to the mineralization process and the infrastructure used for CO2 injection and storage. These patents protect the company’s innovations and ensure that it can continue to lead in the field of CCS.

Projects:

Carbfix collaborates with a wide range of partners, including universities, research institutions, and industry players, to continuously improve its technology. This collaborative approach has led to numerous innovations and has positioned Carbfix as a leader in the carbon capture and storage sector. Their ongoing research focuses on improving efficiency, reducing costs, and expanding the technology’s applicability. Examples of the projects include:

1. Hellisheiði Power Plant (Carbfix1 Project)

   • Location: Hellisheiði, Iceland

   • Description: The Carbfix1 project at the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant is Carbfix’s flagship project. It began in 2012 and demonstrated the feasibility of capturing CO2 from the power plant, dissolving it in water, and injecting it into basaltic rock formations. This project successfully proved that over 95% of the injected CO2 could be mineralized into solid rock within just two years.

   • Significance: This project was one of the first in the world to show that CO2 could be permanently stored in this way, offering a viable solution for large-scale carbon capture and storage.

2. Reykjanes Power Plant

   • Location: Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland

   • Description: Similar to the Hellisheiði project, the Reykjanes project captures CO2 emissions from the Reykjanes geothermal power plant and injects them into basalt formations for mineralization. This project focuses on expanding the use of CCM in geothermal energy production.

   • Significance: The Reykjanes project demonstrates that CCM can be effectively integrated into other geothermal operations, making geothermal energy even more sustainable.

3. Coda Terminal

   • Location: Straumsvík, Iceland (near Reykjavík)

   • Description: The Coda Terminal project aims to develop a CO2 transportation and injection hub that can receive CO2 from various industrial sources, both in Iceland and internationally. The CO2 will be transported to Iceland by ship, where it will be injected and mineralized underground.

   • Significance: This project represents a significant step towards scaling up the Carbfix technology for global use. By establishing a central hub, Carbfix can offer a service to capture and store CO2 from various locations around the world.

4. Partnerships and Pilot Projects

   • Description: Carbfix has partnered with several international companies and organizations to explore the potential for CCM in different parts of the world. These partnerships often involve pilot projects that adapt and test Carbfix's technology in new geological settings.

   • Significance: These collaborations help to validate the technology’s effectiveness in diverse environments and lay the groundwork for broader adoption.

5. Silverstone Project

   • Location: In collaboration with the EU, Iceland, and Switzerland

   • Description: The Silverstone project focuses on scaling up CO2 mineralization processes to an industrial scale. This includes capturing CO2 from industrial plants and developing infrastructure for widespread deployment of the technology across Europe.

   • Significance: The Silverstone project is key to bringing Carbfix’s technology to market on a larger scale, especially in Europe.

Global Impact

While most of Carbfix's projects are currently based in Iceland, the technology they have developed is designed to be scalable and adaptable to other regions. Their work has already attracted global interest, and the company is exploring opportunities to deploy their technology in other parts of the world where basaltic rock formations are available.

Carbfix’s technology is designed to be scalable, making it suitable for large-scale carbon capture and storage projects. The company’s ongoing research and development are focused on scaling up its processes to handle larger volumes of CO2 and exploring the technology’s application in different geological settings around the world. This scalability is crucial for the global deployment of the technology to meet climate targets.

Pricing

For businesses or governments interested in utilizing Carbfix’s technology, pricing would typically be determined through a customized proposal based on the specifics of the project. Potential clients would need to contact Carbfix directly to discuss their needs and obtain a detailed quote tailored to their particular circumstances.