An integrated plant that will remove 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year and create new freshwater from salty seawater is planned in the Daesan Industrial Complex in South Korea. When ready, this will be the world's first such facility. 

As countries work on their promises to go carbon neutral in a few decades, there is a strong push for innovative approaches that capture and utilize carbon. Carbon capture facilities work onsite to help reduce the release of carbon into the atmosphere. In contrast, direct air capture (DAC) technology focuses on removing the released carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. 

Typically, these technologies are deployed alone with their singular goal of removing carbon and need supporting infrastructure for efficient working. Interesting Engineering has previously reported how direct air capture technology has turned water-positive and created fresh water as a byproduct. Capture6, another DAC technology company, is using it to achieve more than just capturing CO2. 

"This collaboration is a major step forward for Capture6," said Ethan Cohen-Cole, co-founder and CEO of Capture6. "By pioneering water integrated water management and CO₂ removal facility, this project will significantly contribute to the region's sustainable future."

As per the company's press release, this approach will help provide an affordable method for carbon removal while also increasing freshwater yields. Capture6 also intends to address concerns about the environmental harms of the desalination plant. 

Conventionally, the desalination process results in the creation of brine, which harms marine ecosystems when disposed of in the sea or ocean. Capture6 plans to use the brine to make green chemicals like hydrochloric acid and calcium carbonates, which are needed for industrial applications in South Korea. Locally, the green chemicals will help decarbonize K-water's water management operations. 

These chemicals are made using fossil fuels and imported to South Korea. By making them locally, with waste from another process, Capture6 will help reduce the environmental impact of the region's industrial activities and replace them with a circular economy, making it more sustainable than before. 

"As a public institution, we are committed to leading the global carbon neutrality efforts and nurturing the domestic water industry by partnering with the private sector to develop innovative water technologies,” added Yun Seog Dae, CEO of K-water.