Climeworks factory with it’s fans in front of the collector, drawing in ambient air and release it, as largely purified CO2 through ventilators at the back is seen at the Hellisheidi power plant near Reykjavik on October 11, 2021. Climeworks factory is in ICELAND containers similar to those used in maritime transport are stacked up in pairs, 10 metres (33 feet) high. Fans in front of the collector draw in ambient air and release it, largely purified of CO2, through ventilators at the back.
HALLDOR KOLBEINS/AFP via Getty Images
As a U.S. city, Austin has always aimed to be a leader for reducing its carbon footprint. It appears that this global company has taken notice as it aims to expand into several U.S. cities this year to triple its fast-growing U.S. employee presence. Climeworks is a Swiss-based climate tech firm that uses direct air capture (DAC) technology to remove carbon from the air.
Climeworks chose to place its headquarters in Austin because of the city’s goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, as well as its “excellent” quality of life, according to a March 13 news release.
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“Austin, Texas is an ideal location for Climeworks because of its strong talent pool, business-friendly environment, and central location. The city’s excellent quality of life also makes it attractive to talent from outside Texas,” the release reads.
The company also plans to expand its American presence in New York, Washington, D.C., and California. This expansion comes after the U.S. Department of Energy approved three DAC Hubs projects — located in Louisiana, North Dakota, and California — to receive more than $600 million in federal funding.
Founded in 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland, Climeworks aims to triple its U.S. team by the end of 2024 with a myriad of new roles across multiple disciplines, including Engineering, Project Management, Supply Chain, Technology and Project Development. Most of the American team working in those roles will be based in Austin, while Commercial and Corporate Finance professionals will make up the majority of roles on the coasts.
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“The U.S. is a strategic market for Climeworks, with deployment of cutting-edge technologies like DAC now being catalyzed in the U.S. by the country’s leadership on carbon management policies included in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act. The U.S. is also home to local partners with relevant expertise in safe and permanent geological storage of CO₂ and large infrastructure projects, providing a strong foundation for Climeworks to further develop its supply chain and deploy at scale,” the release reads.
