Air Canada is investing in new technology to combat climate change

Canadian flagship Air Canada announced Thursday that it will invest $6.75 million in climate solutions firm Carbon Engineering in a bid to support the development of a technology that extracts carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. The move comes as part of the airline’s Climate Action Plan, which includes a commitment to achieve zero emissions by 2050.

Carbon engineering and direct air intake

Founded in 2009, Carbon Engineering (CE) is a clean energy company working to develop a product that captures carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere through a process known as Direct Air Capture.

The process usually involves giant fans that suck in huge swaths of air, filtering out carbon dioxide and returning other gases to the atmosphere. The carbon dioxide is then permanently stored in geological formations in such a way that it cannot contribute to climate change. In addition, it can be used as an ingredient in production sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

Direct Air Capture CE facilities are capable of capturing 1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year; approximately 40 million trees would be needed to achieve the same result. This makes them a particularly useful tool in the fight against climate change, because they can offset a significant amount of the damage caused by burning fossil fuels. This also makes them ideal for the aviation industry, which currently has to rely for the most part on gas-powered aircraft, because all-electric alternatives such as Regent Seaglider and Alice’s eviction either have a limited range or are still under development.

Air Canada’s Climate Action Plan

The investment is the latest in a series of donations by Canada’s state-owned carrier and follows a $5 million investment in Swedish electric aircraft maker Heart Aerospace. Both investments come from a $50 million fund that was created as part of Air Canada’s Climate Action Plan, which aims to achieve zero emissions by 2050.

The plan also includes provisions to target reductions in air emissions and land-based operations by 20% and 30%, respectively, by 2030.

Through its $50 million Climate Action Plan, Air Canada has demonstrated to the rest of the aviation industry that it is serious about delivering on its promise to achieve zero carbon emissions, and its latest $6.75 million investment in Carbon Engineering will ultimately represent a significant milestone towards this. Direct Air Capture technology has the potential to revolutionize the way businesses think about their carbon footprint, and other airlines looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would do well to invest in similar ventures.

In addition, such airlines should fund research and development of all-electric aircraft, as Canada’s flagship carrier has done by investing $5 million in Heart Aerospace. In this way, airlines can offset greenhouse gas emissions from existing aircraft in their fleet and work towards a future where they no longer need to do so – ultimately creating a greener future for the aviation industry.