Saudi Aramco and Siemens Unveil Pilot to Capture CO2 from Thin Air

Editorial Team

Last updated 24-03-2025

3 min

Saudi Aramco and Siemens Energy launched a pilot project for Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology.

The pilot DAC plant can remove 12 tonnes of CO2 annually, aiding Saudi Arabia's climate efforts.

CO2 extracted can be used for producing sustainable chemicals and fuels, enhancing resource efficiency.

The project aims to pave the way for large-scale DAC deployment, aligning with net-zero goals.

Aramco's initiative is part of a circular carbon economy approach, potentially impacting climate change positively.

Saudi Aramco has just rolled out a pilot project that could pave the way for a meaningful cut in carbon emissions. Developed in partnership with Siemens Energy, the oil giant unveiled a Direct Air Capture (DAC) unit, a nifty piece of tech designed to suck CO2 directly from the air. This pilot plant is capable of pulling around 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere each year, which could be particularly impactful in Saudi Arabia's often sweltering climate.

The new facility is serving as a testing ground not only for the DAC technology itself, but also for advanced CO2-capture materials tailored specifically to local conditions. According to Ali A. Al-Meshari, Aramco’s Senior Vice President of Technology Oversight and Coordination, “The test facility launched by Aramco is a key step in our efforts to scale up viable DAC systems, for deployment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. In addition to helping address emissions, the CO2 extracted through this process can in turn be used to produce more sustainable chemicals and fuels.”

Beyond simply helping the environment, Aramco and Siemens see this project as a springboard for scaling up DAC technology in the future. Their ultimate aim is nothing less than large-scale direct air capture units that could significantly contribute toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. Aramco, known globally as a major player in the energy sector, has previously confirmed its goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions from all its operations by the middle of this century.

Looking ahead, the company intends to capture CO2 both from industrial sources at the point of emission and directly from the atmosphere, tying in neatly with Aramco's circular carbon economy approach. Clearly, there's plenty to watch here—this initial step might, one day, help shift the needle on climate change in quite a meaningful way.

With all the climate talk buzzing these days, stories like this always remind me of an Arageek article I read a few weeks ago over tea—highlighting that the transition to greener solutions doesn't have to be as slow or as steep as many fear. Initiatives like Aramco's pilot plant genuinely give some weight to this optimism.

Of course, we're still at the very start of a long journay ahead—so let's see what good comes of it next.

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