Partnership between two pioneering carbon tech startups on French soil gives new hope for Europe’s competitiveness in decarbonisation race.
Sunny Isles Beach, FL & Amsterdam, NL – August 19, 2024 – RepAir Carbon US Inc., developer of a uniquely energy-efficient Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, and C-Questra, an independent European carbon storage startup, today announced a strategic partnership to develop the European Union’s first onshore Direct Air Capture and Storage (DACS) project in France.
This project is promising for a number of reasons: it is the first onshore Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) project of its kind in the EU which eliminates the need for expensive midstream and offshore infrastructure. It also uses a heat-free, ultra-modular electrochemical technology – provided by RepAir – which reduces energy consumption by 70% compared to conventional DAC solutions by relying solely on electricity.
Conventional DAC solutions face criticism for their high energy consumption, resulting in prohibitive cost at scale. Additionally, these systems rely on solvents and sorbents that require regular replacement and introduce potential health and safety risks. In contrast, RepAir’s approach is a groundbreaking innovation that requires only electricity. This technology provides an efficient, cost-effective, safe, and scalable solution for atmospheric CO2 removal.
This new partnership creates the first DACS value chain on French soil that enables co-location of capture and storage facilities reducing midstream infrastructure needs. The project is in Grandpuits, near Paris, where C-Questra has applied for a permit to develop an onshore CO2 storage site. By 2030, the goal is to remove 100,000 tons of CO2 per year from the atmosphere, scaling up megatons by 2035. This large-scale carbon removal is considered essential by experts to significantly reduce atmospheric CO2 levels.
The collaboration also includes a commitment to explore local manufacturing opportunities in the Île-de-France region, thus creating new green jobs, and developing similar DACS projects in other EU countries.
“This is setting a new standard for efficient, scalable carbon removal in Europe,” said Jean-Philippe Hiegel, Head of Strategy and Growth at RepAir Carbon. “The combination of our technology, which uses just 0.6 MWh per ton of CO2 captured – compared to 2.5 MWh for most competitors, and C-Questra’s unique set of carbon storage expertise, addresses a key barrier to widespread DACS adoption. This is incredibly exciting given global decarbonisation needs.”
“As one of the few CO2 storage companies operating independently from the fossil fuel industry, C-Questra offers the paramount safety, permanence and sustainability needed to rapidly advance CCS projects in Europe,” said Walid Sinno, Founder and CEO of C-Questra. “Our partnership with RepAir allows us to demonstrate Europe’s ability to mature onshore direct air capture and storage projects. This is important to balance the momentum created by the US Inflation Act and resurface Europe as a leader in the CDR space.”
The project aligns with France’s recently published CCS strategy, which outlines ambitious goals for the amount of CO2 that needs to be captured and stored in France by 2030. It is well-positioned to capitalise on European funding opportunities, including the Innovation Fund, where no Direct Air Capture project has yet been funded.
RepAir Carbon has quickly established itself as a pioneer in the DAC space. This partnership follows another landmark DAC project in Greece which is also aiming to reach megaton levels. RepAir is also focused on capturing CO2 from diluted point sources, such as aluminum smelting processes. This versatility positions the company to address both critically needed carbon dioxide reduction and removal efforts.
About RepAir Carbon
RepAir is leading the transition to a carbon-negative future with a highly efficient, economically viable and ultra-modular solution for large-scale carbon dioxide removal. The company’s electrochemical cell technology uses 70% less energy than conventional methods, operates without liquids or solvents, and produces no hazardous materials or waste.
About C-Questra
C-Questra is a leading independent European startup and CCUS operator specialising in the CO2 storage value chain empowering sustainable industrial efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.