A pioneering Swiss project, DemoUpCARMA, backed by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and the Federal Office for the Environment, has marked a significant step. They’ve completed the first-ever injection of liquefied CO2 into volcanic rock layers in Iceland.

This initiative aims to trap CO2 emissions at their source, like waste incineration, chemical, or cement facilities, and store them deep underground—a method known as Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (CCS). What sets DemoUpCARMA apart is its use of seawater to transform CO2 into carbonates within Icelandic basalt formations, mimicking a natural process. The objective is to demonstrate how effective and scalable this method can be.

While the geological storage potential in Switzerland is limited, Iceland offers ideal conditions for this innovative carbon capture technique. The first injection in Iceland signifies a crucial step forward in determining its practicality.