Deep Sky and Airhive to Deploy One of the World's Largest Direct Air Capture (DAC) Units in Canada

MONTRÉAL and LONDON, Dec. 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Deep Sky, a Montreal-based gigaton-scale carbon removal project developer, and Airhive, a UK-based DAC startup, have partnered to deploy carbon removal technology in Canada. Airhive will deliver and install a modular DAC unit to be operated at Deep Sky's pilot facility in Quebec in 2024. The unit will have the capacity to remove 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, making it one of the largest installed end-to-end DAC systems in the world.

Airhive's technology uses a unique fluidization process. Fluidization is the process of using a gas or liquid – like air – to make static solid particles behave as "fluid." Airhive uses naturally carbon-absorbing rock minerals and increases their capacity to uptake CO₂ by reforming them into small particles with very high surface areas. The particles then get "fluidized," creating a turbulent sandstorm-like cloud in which the particles rapidly collide with the CO₂ molecules in the air. This is a naturally occurring earth process that normally takes thousands of years, but Airhive makes it happen in minutes. In fact, the process removes close to 100% of the CO₂ in air passed through its system in less than 0.1 second.

Once in operation, the partners will monitor the performance of the DAC unit at Deep Sky's Alpha facility. The joint team will collect data on the performance of the unit in terms of carbon dioxide removal (CDR), energy consumption, and more. The partnership aims to validate the technology for commercial deployment in Canada as part of Deep Sky's mission to develop Canada into a world-leading hub for carbon removal. This follows successful demonstrations of Airhive's technology in its London lab and via the ongoing development of an 80 tonne pilot in Teesside, in northern England.

"It's only fitting that our fourth DAC unit to be deployed at our pilot facility is a unique fluidization technology from Airhive," said Damien Steel, Deep Sky CEO. "Together, we will collect learnings to share with the world, as we prepare to remove gigatons of CO₂ from the air for our premiere carbon credit customers. We're advancing the carbon removal industry, one DAC unit at a time."

"We have been incredibly impressed by Deep Sky's vision, speed and capability, and we're delighted to be working with them to deliver on their vision," said Rory Brown, Airhive CEO. "At 1,000 tonnes annual capacity, our system will be one of the largest installed end-to-end DAC systems in the world, and a demonstration of our commitment to scaling low-cost, energy efficient DAC as rapidly as our climate needs and deserves."

Together, Deep Sky and Airhive are committed to developing and deploying cutting-edge carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies. High quality CDR is essential for achieving net zero emissions goals and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Powered by renewable energy, Deep Sky's facilities are strategically located in Quebec, a region with an abundance of hydroelectric power, immense wind power potential and a vast territory with the rich geological makeup required for carbon capture.

About Deep Sky:
Montreal-based Deep Sky is building the world's first gigaton-scale carbon capture company, aiming to remove billions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere and permanently store it underground. As a project developer, Deep Sky brings together the most promising direct air and ocean carbon capture companies under one roof to bring the largest supply of high quality carbon credits to the market and commercialize carbon removal and storage solutions like never before. For more information, visit: www.deepskyclimate.com.

About Airhive:
Based in London, Airhive is developing a modular DAC technology that uses low-cost, non-hazardous and naturally CO₂-capturing Earth minerals, and is based on a process called fluidization, which is already used widely in energy, food and pharmaceuticals sectors. Powered entirely by renewable electricity, Airhive's approach offers the potential for low-cost, energy-efficient DAC that can be rapidly scaled to contribute to burgeoning global carbon removal efforts. It has already been selected as a supplier of carbon removal for Frontier's third round of carbon removal pre-purchases. For more information, visit: www.airhive.earth.