Documentation about Climeworks

Introduction:
We chose the company Climeworks because we are very interested in climate protection and environmental issues. When we learned that Climeworks had developed a technology to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, we were very curious and wanted to learn more about it. Moreover, Climeworks has received a lot of media attention in recent years, especially because of its innovative CO2 removal technology.

Different steps in our project:
Our steps in this project included conducting extensive research on Climeworks and its technology, including its history, goals and impact on climate change. We gathered information from various sources, such as press releases, reports and the website. We also analysed the technical aspects of CO2 removal by Climeworks, including carbon capture and storage.

Work steps

1) First, we defined the goal of our project and noted and measurable results we hoped to achieve from the project. 2.

2) We created a detailed plan covering all the steps of the project. This included the time schedule as well as the resources we needed to achieve our goals and move forward with our project.

3) We divided the tasks and made a clear overview of who had to do what.

4) Another important point was to identify potential problems. We identified potential problems that could affect the success of the project and made a plan to minimise or eliminate these risks. 5.

5) Then we came to the implementation of our project. We followed our project plan in a structured way and followed these steps. We made certain post on “The Horse” according to specifications. Our team worked on the tasks like evaluating another project or making our own quiz about our project. We started our research by reviewing Climeworks’ website to get a better understanding of the company and its goals. Then we researched about the CO2 removal technology. We also read reports and articles in the press to find out how Climeworks is perceived by the public. We also contacted the company and tried to arrange a visit. Unfortunately without success. In addition, we contacted various newspapers by phone and email for the publication of our project. 6.

 

6) We always monitored the progress of the project and made sure that we stayed on schedule as much as possible, even in case of interruptions and problems. We also constantly checked and adjusted the control of our goals. We posted our information and progress on “The Horse”.

7. at the end, we reviewed our results of the project and made sure that our goals were met and that we had all the relevant documentation together. To be honest, for quite some time, most essentials parts of our project (e.g. the interview) were missing. We gathered these informations just in time before we had to hand in the project.

 

Our conclusion is that Climeworks has developed a promising CO2 removal technology that could play an important role in combating climate change. However, the technology also has some challenges and drawbacks that need to be considered.

 

Climeworks’ technology has the potential to remove a significant amount of CO2 from the atmosphere, which could help slow global warming. It can also be used in various applications, such as agriculture or synthetic fuel production.

 

However, the cost of CO2 removal with Climeworks is currently still very high and could be prohibitive for many countries and companies. In addition, there are still technical challenges in carbon capture and storage that need to be solved.

 

Overall, Climeworks has the potential to play an important role in combating climate change, but further research and development is needed to improve the technology and facilitate its application.

Interview

1. Who invented the machine?

The two founders of climeworks, Jan Wurzbach and Christoph Gebald, also founded the machine itself. They both graduated from ETH Zurich. They founded the company in 2009 with the aim of developing an effective and scalable solution for CO2 capture from the atmosphere. Eversince then, the company is working on improving the machines to make it more efficient.

2. How many CO2 emissions does one machine offset?

The amount of CO2 emissions that a single Climeworks CO2 capture machine can offset depends on a number of factors, including the performance of the machine and the length of time it has been in operation. As the fictitious CEO of Climeworks, I cannot accurately state the specific technical data of an individual machine as I do not have the actual data. However, it is important to note that Climeworks’ carbon capture technology should be seen as part of a wider approach to tackling climate change. It enables companies and organisations to offset their carbon footprints and become more carbon neutral. The impact on the carbon footprint depends on the number of machines used, their capacity and how long they are in operation.

3. How big is such a machine?

The size of a Climeworks CO2 machine can vary, depending on the model and capacity. Climeworks machines are generally compact and modular in design to ensure flexibility and scalability. However, the exact dimensions may vary depending on the specific technical specifications of the machines. To get an idea of the size, one could imagine that a single separation machine is about the size of a large shipping container. This size makes it possible to set up the machines at different locations and expand them as needed.

4. How expensive is such a machine?

The exact cost of a Climeworks CO2 capture machine depends on several factors, including the capacity of the machine and the specific equipment. However, as CEO of Climeworks, I can tell you that the cost of such machines is usually high as they involve complex technology and specialised components.

It is important to note that Climeworks does not only sell individual machines, but also offers various business models, including long-term partnerships and services. These allow companies and organisations to reap the benefits of carbon capture technology without having to purchase their own machine.

Due to the constantly evolving technology and economies of scale, the cost of CO2 capture is expected to continue to decrease over time. This will make the technology more affordable for wider application and more players.

 

 

5. Does this make trees superfluous?

No, CO2 capture machines like Climeworks’ do not replace the importance of trees and forests. Trees play an important role in absorbing CO2 through the process of photosynthesis and storing carbon in their biomass. Forests also provide habitat for a variety of animal species, protect against soil erosion and help regulate the water cycle.

Carbon capture technology is intended to complement existing measures to combat climate change. It can help reduce CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere and offset greenhouse gas emissions, especially in areas where it is difficult to reduce CO2 emissions directly. However, trees and forests remain indispensable for ecological balance and sustainable development.

It is important that we pay attention to both the planting and preservation of forests and to carbon capture technology in order to collectively meet the challenges of climate change.

 

6. On a scale of 1-10, how efficient are these machines?

Assessing the efficiency of carbon capture machines such as those from Climeworks is difficult because a variety of factors need to be taken into account rather than simply rating them on a scale of 1 to 10. Efficiency depends on various aspects such as the specific technology, energy consumption, capacity, cost and other parameters.

It can be said that CO2 capture technology has made significant progress in recent years, but challenges remain. Currently, the technology is still in a developmental stage and is continuously optimised to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

It is important to note that efficiency should not be judged solely on the amount of CO2 captured, but also by considering other factors such as energy consumption, cost effectiveness and environmental impact. Research and development play a crucial role in continuously improving the efficiency of CO2 capture technology and making it an even more powerful and sustainable option in the fight against climate change.

 

7. Who belongs to your customer group?

Our customer group is primarily companies and organisations that want to commit to a sustainable and climate-neutral future. This includes companies from various sectors such as energy, industry, transport, agriculture, food and more.

Our clients can be diverse, including companies that want to offset their CO2 emissions to meet their climate goals, as well as companies that want to use CO2 for their own purposes, for example in production or in the manufacture of synthetic fuels.

We also work closely with governments, non-profit organisations and research institutions to further develop our carbon capture technology and expand its applications. Our goal is to appeal to a wide range of customers who are actively committed to climate protection and want to use our technology as part of their sustainability strategy.

Isn’t it hypocrisy then for every company to suddenly be “green” simply by buying certificates?

It is important to understand that buying CO2 certificates to offset emissions should not be seen as the sole solution to climate change. Rather, it should be seen as a step towards sustainability and emissions reduction.

CO2 certificates offer companies the opportunity to offset their unavoidable CO2 emissions while working to reduce their own emissions. However, it is crucial that companies do not rely solely on the purchase of allowances, but also actively seek to reduce their operational emissions and implement more sustainable practices.

Buying carbon credits can help companies offset their emissions while they develop long-term strategies to continuously reduce their carbon footprints. It is important that companies communicate transparently and report on their emissions reduction efforts rather than relying solely on the purchase of allowances.

Overall, offsetting CO2 emissions through the purchase of certificates is a tool that helps companies make their contribution to climate protection. However, it should be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to sustainability and emissions reduction.

Reflexion:

We both first really struggled with the task and also with the communication within the team. It seemed like we were overwhelmed with what we had to do. After some serious talk with our teacher, Ms. Suter, we really pulled our stuff together and started to put in the work. After many hours of brainstorming, writing, researching and interviewing, we can now say that our project comes close to what it is supposed to be.

What really impressed us, is the dedication, with which climeworks operates. To get unique insights in this interesting company is something, we will think back to, even many years after.

Also, Janis and Sascha grew together to a team. In the end, our communcation was quite decent. Each member knew what their previous task was and the whole project itself became really exciting.

In conclusion, our project may not be “the yellow of the egg”, but still we are proud of what we have achieved in such a short time period. We think, that the reader gets quite a good insight in what climeworks really does and what they can achieve with their project.

Besides all the productive work, the team (Janis and Sascha) had a really good time with many laughs and jokes as well.  When reading this whole article here, we can really feel the spirit and the heart, we have put into this.

 

 

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