Amazon has announced inaugural investments in direct air capture (DAC). First, the company will purchase 250,000 metric tons of carbon removal over 10 years from the Stratos DAC plant operated by 1PointFive. In addition, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund is investing in CarbonCapture Inc., which builds modular DAC systems. The company has a stated goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

DAC technology CO2 filters CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it in underground geological formations, or uses it to create products such as building materials, like concrete, bricks, and cement. “Amazon's primary focus is to decarbonize our global operations through our transition to renewable energy, building with more sustainable materials and electrifying our delivery fleet, and global logistics,” according to Kara Hurst, vice president of worldwide sustainability at Amazon.

1PointFive is building its first DAC plant in Ector County, Texas. When fully operational, the plant is expected to be the largest in the world and designed to capture up to 500,000 tons of CO2 annually, according to Amazon. Plans also call for the plant to analyze real-time AWS performance data and optimize operations

"Amazon’s purchase and long-term contract represent a significant commitment to direct air capture as a vital carbon removal solution,” said Michael Avery, president and general manager of 1PointFive. "The addition of 1PointFive’s quantifiable carbon removal credits support Amazon’s path to achieve net-zero and shows the growing role that DAC technology will play in decarbonization pathways.”

Image from CarbonCapture.com