The UK government’s Phase Two reports from the Direct Air Capture and Greenhouse Gas Removal Innovation Programme reveal early but instructive results from a diverse portfolio of carbon removal technologies.
More than a dozen pilot and demonstration projects led by energy companies, startups, and research consortia have tested these systems outside laboratory conditions, offering insights into performance, scalability, and cost dynamics.
Direct air capture remains a central focus. Cambridge Carbon Capture’s Direct Air CO2 Capture and Mineralisation project evaluated a modular approach that permanently binds CO2 into stable minerals, while the Smart-DAC initiative explored alternative sorbents designed to reduce energy requirements. Equinor’s ENCORE Phase Two effort investigated liquid-based capture chemistry operating at lower temperatures. Across all projects, developers reported technical progress but highlighted persistent hurdles related to high energy intensity, operational complexity, and prohibitive costs.
Bioenergy and biomass approaches provided similarly mixed results. Evero’s Ince facility in the HyNet cluster demonstrated integration of carbon capture with biomass gasification, and the CCH2 project combined hydrogen production with carbon removal processes. These pilots underline the potential for co-located carbon capture and energy generation, though cost-efficiency and operational scaling remain critical constraints.
The programme also tested unconventional pathways. SeaCURE explored enhanced ocean alkalinity to boost CO2 uptake in seawater, while Reverse Coal examined the engineered burial of carbon-rich char. The GreenShed initiative targeted methane reduction and capture in livestock systems, expanding the remit of carbon removal beyond CO2.
The Climate Change Committee has emphasized that removals will be necessary to offset residual emissions from sectors such as aviation and agriculture. Government investment, initially £54 million in 2021, aims to establish a domestic greenhouse gas removal industry capable of attracting private capital and supporting green job creation.
