A two-pronged approach to help alleviate the effects of climate change, proposed by Ottawa startup TerraFixing, will pair carbon removal with wind energy for remote, cold areas of Canada’s north.

Co-founded by chemical engineering PhDs Sean Wilson and Vida Gabriel, TerraFixing has developed a direct air capture (DAC) technology that can remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere in cold climates.

The combination of cool and dry air enables efficient operations for the energy-intensive technology, Gabriel said in an interview with Sustainable Biz Canada.

Also key is the plan to match those DAC units with renewable, clean energy that can bring power to remote communities, largely Indigenous Canadian, which still rely on diesel but want to move away from fossil fuels, she said.

“We see this as a synergistic relationship. Our technologies work really well in the cold, we want to scale to gigatonne capture, and there is opportunity for renewable power generation that we haven’t yet tapped into in the far north,” Gabriel, the company’s COO, said.

A cool technology for carbon removal

TerraFixing’s carbon removal system starts by using large fans to draw in air. Moisture in the air is separated in a water capture bed, then the dehumidified air passes a zeolite-based carbon capture filter.

Once the filter is sufficiently saturated with the greenhouse gas, the fans are shut down and the filter is regenerated. The filter is heated, releasing the CO2, which is captured, compressed and liquefied for storage. The filter can be reused like a sponge when the CO2 is ‘squeezed out’ and re-pressurized, Gabriel said.

Unique to its process is the specialization for colder climates, such as in the Arctic or Antarctica. The conditions provide the “optimal conditions for efficient direct air capture when paired with wind power,” Gabriel said. Drier, cold air has fewer components to separate and has less heat, so less energy is expended to separate the CO2 from moisture.

Even as temperatures and humidity rise from global warming, Gabriel is confident the technology will remain viable. Temperatures will remain colder in northern climates, she said.

Scaling carbon capture and removal to the levels necessary to put a dent in manmade greenhouse gas pollution will require energy efficiency, Gabriel said. One estimate says 10 gigatons of carbon removal will be needed per year by 2050 to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal.

Compared to peer technologies, TerraFixing is 2.5 to four times more efficient the company says on its website. The high energy consumption required for carbon removal and capture has been identified as a flaw in the sector, as it would require substantially more power generation and could conflict with electricity needs.

Gabriel said its process is also not prone to freezing at low temperatures - unlike some competitors.

A pilot DAC unit is set for deployment in Fermont, Que., a town in northern Quebec near the Newfoundland and Labrador border. It has the capacity to remove 1,000 tonnes of CO2 per year and can be packed into a 20-foot container. TerraFixing also plans for a commercial unit that can remove 4,000 tonnes of CO2 per year that can fit in a 40-foot container.

TerraFixing has buy-in from the community, including a partnership with Montreal-based Tugliq Energy to incorporate wind energy to power the carbon removal hub and the town.

Combining carbon capture and wind energy

Tugliq is a clean energy project developer that has expertise in installing wind turbines designed for the Arctic climate, Gabriel explained.

Mining operations have resulted in the creation of truck and rail transportation infrastructure in Canada’s north, so transporting its projects will not be enormously challenging, TerraFixing’s COO said.

TerraFixing signed a $10-million agreement in May with the company to develop two DAC units.

The price of installing the technology can be offset because it is optimized for cold climates, energy costs can be kept low, by aid from commercial partnerships, and government support for carbon removal and renewable energy, Gabriel summarized.

“It is expensive, but there’s a lot of support from government and also industry to make these projects happen.”

The company’s ambition is to deploy as many carbon removal sites as possible, incorporating the DAC units, wind turbines and on-site storage of CO2. TerraFixing’s partner Geofirma Engineering is helping the company find the ideal locations for sequestering the greenhouse gas.

Canadian innovation hub MaRS purchased carbon removal credits from TerraFixing to foster its growth. TerraFixing’s Canada-focused approach pleased MaRS, Gabriel said.

Other than in Fermont, the company has projects in the pipeline in locations such as Nunavut. Tugliq is maintaining its partnership with TerraFixing for these as well.

Having already raised over $13 million in funding, the company is working to build relationships in preparation for a Series A fundraise.