SAN ANGELO, TX — Tom Green County will soon be home to the world’s first wind-powered Direct Air Capture (DAC) hub, thanks to a partnership between Return Carbon and Verified Carbon.
Announced today, “Project Concho” aims to leverage cutting-edge DAC technology and onsite carbon storage to capture and permanently remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
In its initial phase, the facility is set to remove 50,000 tons of CO₂ annually before 2030, with plans to scale up to 500,000 tons per year. The project will generate verified carbon credits for the carbon markets while providing economic and environmental benefits to the Concho Valley.
Project Concho will be powered by a new wind farm developed by Greenalia, a global renewable energy producer with expertise in wind and solar projects across Europe and the United States. Skytree, a carbon removal company with roots in the European Space Agency, will supply the DAC technology, which includes modular units capable of 24/7 operation with optimized energy use.
“Project Concho is a significant step forward in scaling up DAC,” said Martijn Verwoerd, Managing Director of Return Carbon. “We’re thrilled to make West Texas a home for this groundbreaking hub and create new opportunities for the region.”
A flexible Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) between Greenalia and the DAC hub will help stabilize energy pricing and consistent power delivery, a model that could pave the way for future renewable DAC projects, according to the announcement.
"We are excited about the partnership with Project Concho and there is a vision and a framework for collaboration that our companies share," said Alexandre Alonso, SVP of Business Development at Greenalia. "The flexibility offered by the DAC hub to optimize around energy price peaks is a game changer for renewable energy projects. It not only strengthens the business case for our wind farm under development in Texas but also contributes to adding innovative business models and alternatives for a greener energy landscape in the U.S."
In addition to its environmental benefits, Project Concho is expected to provide new revenue streams for local landowners through carbon sequestration agreements.
"Project Concho brings significant benefits to the Concho Valley, providing new economic opportunities for landowners beyond traditional activities," said Coleman White, co-founder of Verified Carbon and Concho Valley landowner. "Projects like these allow us to maintain traditional land uses while benefiting from a new income source and supporting projects that sustain both our environment and local economy."
"Project Concho is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that opens the door to even more ambitious and transformative carbon removal projects," said Elena Nikonova, VP North America at Skytree. "Deploying DAC at scale is necessary to drive down costs across the value chain and achieve greater impact and we are thrilled to provide the technology needed to bring Project Concho to life."
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