Deep Sky and DACMA Join Forces to Develop End-to-end Carbon Removal Technology for At-Scale Deployment in Canada
Deep Sky and DACMA Advance End-to-End Carbon Removal in Canada
MONTRÉAL and HAMBURG 1st December 2025 — Deep Sky, the Canadian carbon removal project developer, and DACMA, a Hamburg-based global direct air capture (DAC) company, have entered into a long-term joint development agreement that will form the basis for the deployment of DACMA’s high-quality and high-integrity carbon removal technology in Canada. The two companies are sending a strong signal that Canada and Germany can cooperate to achieve the global policy goal of curbing climate change by removing CO₂ directly out of the atmosphere.
As an initial step in this new partnership, Deep Sky will be the first to deploy a DACMA unit in North America. The first DACMA unit at a Deep Sky facility will have a removal capacity of 600 tonnes of CO₂ per year, with a view to grow deployment to large scale facilities by 2027.
Deep Sky and DACMA have further agreed to jointly develop the next generation of DAC technology, to be deployed at Deep Sky’s upcoming large-scale Canadian carbon removal and sequestration facilities. Deep Sky’s facilities are targeting a million tonnes of removal per year. This agreement comes at a time when Canada has established a clear regulatory path for large scale direct air capture. Deep Sky and DACMA are working to generate high-quality and high-integrity credits for the voluntary and, eventually, regulated markets.
“Scaling carbon removal infrastructure demands robust, groundbreaking engineering and ever-more ambitious deployments. That’s exactly what Deep Sky and DACMA are doing through this new partnership—working together to drive down the cost of DAC and scale the technology as quickly as possible,” said Alex Petre, CEO of Deep Sky. “We view this collaboration with DACMA as a major step forward.”
“I look forward to this strong alliance with Deep Sky as we share the same vision and commitment to rapidly scaling CDR to permanently remove unavoidable and historical emissions from the Earth’s carbon cycle and stop climate change”, said Jörg Spitzner, CEO DACMA GmbH.
As a project developer, Deep Sky is actively deploying expansive carbon removal and storage infrastructure across Canada. It is incorporating leading carbon dioxide removal and sequestration technologies to scale up a portfolio of solutions.
About Deep Sky
Montreal-based Deep Sky is the world’s first tech-agnostic carbon removal project developer aiming to remove gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere and permanently store it underground. As a project developer, Deep Sky brings together the most promising direct air carbon capture companies under one roof to bring the largest supply of high-quality carbon credits to the market, commercializing and catalyzing carbon removal and storage solutions like never before. With $130M in funding, Deep Sky is backed by world class investors including Investissement Québec, Brightspark Ventures, Whitecap Venture Partners, OMERS Ventures, BDC Climate Fund, BMO, National Bank of Canada, Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, and more. For more information, visit deepskyclimate.com
About DACMA GmbH
Hamburg-based DACMA has proven, modular DAC systems that are already being used successfully in South America and Germany. The technology is considered to be energy efficient, robust against extreme weather conditions, and scalable up to large commercial facilities. For more information, visit dacma.com
Successful FAT for the first DAC-Unit in an air conditioning system
Successful FAT for DACMA Unit
We are proud to announce that the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for our first DAC-Unit integrated into a building’s ventilation and air conditioning system has been successfully completed. This marks a significant milestone in the innovative project we are implementing together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) as part of the BMBF-funded Sector Coupling (SEKO)project.
The unit will now be prepared for delivery and installation on the roof of the Institute for Micro Process Engineering (IMVT)building at KIT. Once installed, the system will be used to investigate the synergy between building ventilation and CO₂ capture functions. In addition, the optimized operation of the DAC-Unit in combination with renewable energy sources will be tested in a real-world environment.
This project demonstrates a highly promising new use case for our DACMA units and highlights the flexibility, scalability, and environmental benefits of our technology.
We would like to sincerely thank all our partners and the entire project team for their outstanding dedication and excellent cooperation throughout the FAT phase. Together, we are taking another important step toward sustainable and climate-friendly building technologies.
NDR (German broadcaster) features DACMA’s DAC unit on world’s 1st floating hydrogen power plant
DACMA on sea with project H2Mare
Our 60TA DAC Unit is part of the world’s 1st floating hydrogen power plant, which has just entered its testing phase in Bremerhaven, Germany.
It was recently covered by German public broadcaster NDR – a strong signal for the future of climate-neutral energy systems.
The H2Mare Hydrogen flagship project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Our Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology removes CO₂ directly from the ambient air – an important key enabler for sustainable power-to-X applications and the production of synthetic fuels. This deployment proves that DAC can be flexible, scalable and mobile – even offshore at sea!
A big thank you to KIT (Karlsruhe Institue of Technology) for trusting DACMA. Together, we’re shaping the future of clean energy.
Watch the full NDR Info report (German Version) here:
NDR Mediathek – Floating Hydrogen Power Plant Begins Testing
Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs): Comparing Different CO₂ Removal Strategies
In the race to combat climate change, Negative Emissions Technologies (NETs) have emerged as crucial tools in our global decarbonization arsenal. As highlighted in Brazil’s pioneering DAC.SI project, achieving climate goals requires a comprehensive strategy that includes both significant decarbonization efforts and the deployment of NETs [1]. According to the IPCC, we need an annual CO₂ removal capacity of 10 GtCO₂ by 2050 to meet our global climate targets [2]. Let’s explore the landscape of these technologies and how they compare.
A Breakdown of DAC vs. BECCS vs. Ocean-based CO₂ Removal
Direct Air Capture (DAC)
DAC technology directly removes CO₂ from the atmosphere, providing an engineered solution to mitigate climate change [1]. When paired with geological carbon sequestration, this process is known as Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS). The DAC.SI project in Brazil represents South America’s first foray into this technology, with three units at varying technological readiness levels:
- The DAC Test Bench (operational since September 2023)
- The DAC 15TA (operational since April 2024) with a 15 tons/year removal capacity
- The DAC 300TA plant (operational since November 2024) with a 300 tons/year capacity [1]
Currently, there are 27 operational DAC plants worldwide capturing nearly 0.01 Mt CO₂ per year, with plans for approximately 130 additional facilities in various stages of development [3].
Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)
BECCS combines biomass energy production with carbon capture technology. Unlike DAC, which captures CO₂ directly from the air, BECCS captures emissions from biomass combustion. Plants naturally absorb CO₂ during growth, and when this biomass is used for energy, the resulting emissions are captured and stored underground [4].
Ocean-based CO₂ Removal
Ocean-based approaches include ocean alkalinization, seaweed cultivation, and artificial upwelling. These methods leverage the ocean’s natural carbon absorption capabilities but face challenges related to ecosystem impacts and verification of carbon sequestration [5].
Evaluating the Energy Requirements and Environmental Impact of Different NETs
Energy Efficiency
The DAC.SI project reports that their DAC 300TA system requires approximately 1,289 kWh per ton of CO₂ captured, with 398 kWh for electrical components and 891 kWh for thermal energy [1]. These are targets, set at the start of the project, that are not being met today.
This presents opportunities for integration with waste heat sources in industrial areas.
BECCS, by comparison, can potentially generate net energy while capturing carbon, though actual performance depends heavily on biomass source, transportation, and processing efficiency [6].
Water Usage
Water consumption is another critical factor. The DAC 300TA system consumes approximately 2 tons of water per ton of CO₂ captured [1]. Other NETs vary significantly in their water requirements, with some BECCS implementations requiring substantial water inputs for biomass production [7].
Land Requirements
DAC systems have relatively small physical footprints compared to BECCS, which requires substantial land for biomass cultivation. Ocean-based methods have minimal land requirements but raise other environmental considerations [8].
How NETs Can Complement Other Decarbonization Efforts Like Emissions Reduction
Addressing Different Emission Sources
NETs are particularly valuable for addressing historical CO₂ production and Scope 3 emissions that are difficult to eliminate directly [1]. They complement traditional emission reduction strategies like renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency improvements, and electrification.
Regional Implementation Strategies
As the DAC.SI project demonstrates, NETs can be tailored to regional conditions. Brazil’s vast clean energy resources, geological potential for underground CO₂ storage (such as mineral carbonation in basaltic rocks), and unique environmental conditions make it particularly well-suited for certain NET approaches [1].
Integration with Energy Systems
The DAC.SI project explores opportunities to reduce energy demand by sharing infrastructure and utilizing waste heat, further enhancing DAC’s decarbonization potential [1]. This approach of system integration represents how NETs can be incorporated into existing energy and industrial infrastructures.
The Future of NETs in Global Climate Strategy
The development of NETs, particularly in regions like Brazil, is essential for fostering a comprehensive and equitable global response to climate change. Currently, CDR policy initiatives are predominantly centered in developed nations [9], but expanding these technologies to the Global South is crucial given increasing population growth, rising CO₂ emissions, and the expanding economic influence of these regions.
Brazil’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) establishes goals to reduce net GHG emissions by 48.4% by 2025 and 53.1% by 2030, relative to 2005 levels, with a commitment to achieving net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 [1]. NETs will play a critical role in meeting these ambitious targets.
Download the Complete DACMA Whitepaper Today
Want to dive deeper into the technical details of Brazil’s pioneering Direct Air Capture initiatives? Download the comprehensive whitepaper about our project “Leading the way: Brazil’s pioneering steps toward Direct Air Capture (DAC) deployment in South America” to access:
- Detailed technical specifications of the DAC Test Bench, DAC 15TA, and DAC 300TA systems
- Complete performance metrics and experimental results
- In-depth analysis of implementation challenges and solutions
- Strategic roadmap for scaling DAC technology in the Global South
[DOWNLOAD WHITEPAPER NOW] ← Your detailed guide to the future of carbon removal technologies
References:
[1] Dalla Vecchia, F., et al. (2024). Leading the way: Brazil’s pioneering steps toward Direct Air Capture (DAC) deployment in South America. 17th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies, GHGT-17.
[2] IPCC. (2023). Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
[3] International Energy Agency (IEA). (2023). Direct Air Capture. www.iea.org/reports/direct-air-capture.
[4] Fajardy, M., & Mac Dowell, N. (2017). Can BECCS deliver sustainable and resource efficient negative emissions? Energy & Environmental Science, 10(6), 1389-1426.
[5] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2022). A Research Strategy for Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sequestration. The National Academies Press.
[6] Smith, P., et al. (2016). Biophysical and economic limits to negative CO₂ emissions. Nature Climate Change, 6(1), 42-50.
[7] Fuss, S., et al. (2018). Negative emissions—Part 2: Costs, potentials and side effects. Environmental Research Letters, 13(6), 063002.
[8] Minx, J.C., et al. (2018). Negative emissions—Part 1: Research landscape and synthesis. Environmental Research Letters, 13(6), 063001.
[9] Sovacool, B.K. (2023). Expanding carbon removal to the Global South: Thematic concerns on systems, justice, and climate governance. Energy and Climate Change, 4, 100103.
DACMA hands over first offshore DAC unit to KIT – start of tests at sea as part of H2Mare
Start of offshore CO₂ extraction with KIT
Today, DACMA successfully handed over the first Direct Air Capture (DAC) unit for use at sea to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) after passing the Site Acceptance Test (SAT). The system is currently installed on a barge in Bremerhaven and is being used as part of the H2Mare Hydrogen flagship project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
The DAC unit is part of the PtX Wind project within H2Mare. A multi-stage Power-to-Liquid (PtL) process is being tested on the floating platform with the aim of producing synthetic fuels directly at sea from wind energy. The tests are taking place both in port and on the high seas near Helgoland.
A special technical feature of the DAC plant is the integrated pre-filter unit, which was specially developed for the challenging conditions of the sea air. It ensures a stable and continuous process even under changing climatic conditions at sea. The system has a CO₂ capture capacity of around 60 tons per year.After completion of the offshore test series, the system will continue to be operated at the KIT Energy Lab in Karlsruhe. In combination with other industrial processes, the scalability and long-term stability of the technology for industrial applications will be investigated there.
Direct Air Capture system for offshore handed over to KIT
DAC system to be deployed in the BMBF hydrogen lead project H2Mare for offshore
On February 28, a Direct Air Capture (DAC) plant was handed over to the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) with the successful completion of the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). This plant, with a carbon capture capacity of 60 tons of CO2 per year, represents a significant step in the development of advanced CO2 capture technologies.
As part of the BMBF-funded hydrogen lead project H2Mare, specifically within the PtX-Wind subproject, the DAC system will be installed on a floating test platform—a barge in Bremerhaven—from mid-March. The platform will be equipped with a multi-stage Power-to-Liquid process, which will be tested in various test series both in the harbor and at sea of Helgoland.
A technical highlight of the system is the integrated unit for pre-filtering the incoming air, which has been specially developed to take advantage of the challenging conditions of the sea air. This innovative technology ensures that a continuous and stable process is guaranteed even under the varying climatic conditions at sea.
After completion of the extensive series of tests at sea, the system will continue to be operated in the Energy Lab in Karlsruhe and coupled with other industrial processes to ensure the scalability and long-term stability of the technology for future industrial applications. With this pioneering technology, we are a big step closer to achieving sustainable CO2 reductions for industrial applications. We are excited to be part of a project that will significantly advance the decarbonization of our economy.
“In just one year, DACMA GmbH have achieved an exponential progress in the atmospheric carbon capture journey. The strategic alliance with Repsol (both in Venturing Capital and projects) will boost the pace of this highly focused group of outstanding engineers that are persistently looking for every angle of the technology improvement. Take the time to celebrate, acknowledge your success and keep going!!!”
“One of the most relevant projects related to the development of technologies with a negative CO2 effect, the ONLY project in Brazil on Direct Air Capture multi-country Spain, Brazil Germany in Open Innovation. Repsol Sinopec Brazil Corporation, Start Up DACMA and PUC Rio Grande do Sul University. A disruptive commitment to a more decarbonized world. Being part of this project is a privilege and a unique opportunity to add value to society.”
“In collaboration with Phoenix Contact, DACMA has developed an application that contributes to CO2 decarbonization. This technology makes a significant contribution to sector coupling in the All Electric Society and to the sustainable use of energy. I am delighted that two technology-driven companies are working together so efficiently.”
“The DACMA GmbH with Jörg Spitzner and his team are not only valuable partners in our network, but also key initiators and innovators who, with DACMA, are driving forward DAC system engineering in the Hamburg metropolitan region – an essential future climate change mitigation technology.”
“Together with our partner DACMA GmbH, we are delighted to be building the first DAC machine on the HAMBURG BLUE HUB site in the Port of Hamburg. The 30-60 tons output of CO2 annually of the DACMA machine can later be used to produce e-methanol for the Port of Hamburg, for example. This is a joint milestone, as it fits in with the plan to purchase large volumes of synthetic fuels from Power-to-X plants in Africa and South America for Germany through the HAMBURG BLUE HUB”.
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