44.01: Eliminating CO2 by Turning it Into Rock
Challenge:
The heavy industry and mobility sectors face a critical hurdle in the race to net-zero: capturing carbon is only half the battle. Once captured, CO2 must be stored in a way that is safe, permanent, and cost-effective. Traditional storage methods often face concerns regarding long-term leakage, monitoring costs, and public acceptance, creating a bottleneck for industrial decarbonization.
Solution:
To address the storage crisis, 44.01 offers an innovative mineralization technology that injects CO2 into peridotite rock formations.
- Mineralization: Their process accelerates the natural reaction between CO2 and peridotite, turning gas into solid rock in less than 12 months.
- Permanence: Unlike underground gas storage, mineralized carbon cannot leak, eliminating the need for long-term monitoring and risk management.
- Scalability: The technology utilizes widely available rock formations, allowing industrial players to decarbonize local operations without extensive pipeline infrastructure.
Results:
44.01 has successfully demonstrated its technology through pilot projects in Oman, proving that rapid mineralization is a viable solution for large-scale carbon removal.
- Holcim UAE Cooperation: Through a world-first pilot in Fujairah, 44.01 is mineralizing CO2 captured directly from Holcim’s cement operations. This partnership proves the technology can be integrated into high-emission industrial sites to create a permanent, leak-proof decarbonization model.
- Global Recognition: As an Earthshot Prize winner, 44.01 has validated its potential to scale carbon removal to the megaton level, addressing the core productivity and environmental challenges of the modern industrial site.
QUOTE:
- Ali Said, CEO of Holcim UAE and Oman:
“This project demonstrates how innovation and collaboration can accelerate progress towards net-zero. This pilot to decarbonise our cement plant is another example of how we are building progress for people and the planet. Our partnership with 44.01 reinforces our shared commitment to pioneering sustainable solutions and showcases what is possible when industry leaders work together to drive meaningful, scalable impact.”
2. Talal Hasan, Founder and CEO of 44.01:
“This partnership shows that industrial companies can play a leading role in permanent carbon removal. Working with Holcim, FNRC and NT Energies, we are demonstrating a practical and scalable path to decarbonisation that can be replicated worldwide.”
