As global warming intensifies, several carbon dioxide removal projects have commenced in Los Angeles County, aiming to establish Southern California as a leader in climate change adaptation.
Project Monarch: Wastewater Treatment and Carbon Capture in Palmdale
Project Monarch, a partnership between the Palmdale Water District and Capture6, combines wastewater treatment with atmospheric CO2 capture. The facility will purify up to 4.5 million gallons of water daily and capture 25,000 tons of CO2 annually, helping California achieve its renewable energy and carbon neutrality goals by 2045.
CarbonCapture Inc. Unveils Commercial-Scale Direct Air Capture System
CarbonCapture Inc. introduced the first commercial-scale U.S. direct air capture (DAC) system in Long Beach. The modular unit can remove over 500 tons of atmospheric CO2 per year, with plans to mass-produce up to 4,000 units annually in Arizona.
Innovative Carbon Removal Solutions from L.A.-Based Companies
- Captura: Removing CO2 from the upper ocean
- Avnos: Producing water while capturing carbon
- Equatic: Removing atmospheric CO2 using the ocean
Equatic’s San Pedro facility captures 40 tons of CO2 per year and plans to build a larger plant in Quebec with a 100,000-ton annual capacity.
Challenges and Considerations for Carbon Capture Technologies
Carbon capture can be expensive and energy-intensive, with ongoing research to identify the best storage methods. Experts emphasize that carbon removal should be used alongside emission reductions to effectively combat climate change.
The IPCC estimates that 6-12 billion tons of CO2 must be removed annually to limit global warming to 1.5°C by mid-century. As Capture6 CEO Ethan Cohen-Cole stated, “This only works if we prioritize reductions of emissions.”
