SSC IMD SA 2017 – Question 93

The world’s first ‘negative emissions carbon-capture plant’ has begun operations in which country?

• Iceland
• Germany
• Japan
• China

Detailed Explanation:

The correct answer is a) आइसलैंड (Iceland).

In October 2017, the world’s first commercial negative emissions carbon-capture and mineralization plant began operations at the Hellisheidi geothermal power station in Iceland.

• Technology & Partners: The project was a collaboration between Swiss direct air capture company Climeworks and Iceland’s CarbFix project (led by Reykjavik Energy).
• Mechanism:
  • Climeworks’ direct air capture collectors filter ambient air to capture carbon dioxide ($\text{CO}_2$) using patented chemical filters powered by clean geothermal energy.
  • The captured $\text{CO}_2$ is dissolved in water and pumped deep underground (approximately 700–1000 metres) into basaltic rock formations.
  • Within two years, the dissolved $\text{CO}_2$ reacts naturally with minerals in the basalt to form solid carbonate minerals (such as calcite), permanently storing the carbon into stone (‘mineralization’) and preventing it from re-entering the atmosphere.
• Significance: It represented the world’s first industrial-scale demonstration of Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) achieving true negative emissions.