Who offers the best carbon capture?
Key takeaway
Climeworks and 1PointFive are the two names most engines give, with Climeworks first for ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini and 1PointFive first for Google AI Mode. Carbon Clean, SLB Capturi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Svante also appear, and Perplexity leads with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Disagreement (1)
Who leads the list
Verdict
Climeworks is first for ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini, while Google AI Mode leads with 1PointFive and Perplexity with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
What engines actually searched
The sub-queries each engine actually searched before answering.
Cited, but not mentioned
5 sites cite this answer without naming anyone
Full responses
5 of 5 engines that answered. Full stored text as captured, with dashes shown as hyphens. Nothing is summarised.
The best carbon capture provider depends on what you want to capture, how much CO₂ you need to remove, and whether you want to reduce emissions from an industrial facility or remove carbon that's already in the atmosphere.
There are three main categories to compare:
- Direct air capture (DAC): Removes CO₂ directly from ambient air. Useful for companies seeking measurable carbon removal, but currently expensive and energy-intensive.
- Industrial carbon capture: Captures CO₂ from concentrated emissions at cement plants, refineries, power plants, and other industrial facilities. Often more economical per ton captured.
- Carbon removal and storage: Captures CO₂ and stores it underground or in durable materials, aiming for long-term removal rather than simply preventing emissions.
My top carbon capture providers
- Climeworks
Best established DAC specialist
Specializes in removing CO₂ from ambient air and combining capture with underground storage in Iceland. A strong option if your goal is durable, verifiable carbon removal.
Best for: Corporate carbon removal and permanent storage.
Official website · Project background
- 1PointFive / Occidental
Best for large-scale DAC
Developing the Stratos direct-air-capture facility in Texas, designed for a target capacity of approximately 500,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually. That makes it a major contender for industrial-scale atmospheric carbon removal. Actual operating output and costs matter when evaluating performance. Carbon removal (DAC): where the field actually standsGlobal Direct Air Capture Market Size & Forecast
Best for: Large corporate buyers and major carbon removal projects.
- CarbonCapture Inc.
Develops modular capture equipment designed to scale by connecting multiple units. Its Project Bison initiative in Wyoming targets large-scale atmospheric carbon removal.
Best for: Modular systems and emerging US carbon removal projects.
Official website CarbonCapture Inc. | Direct air capture for a net zero future
- Shell
A major option for capturing CO₂ from industrial processes and transporting it for geological storage. This is a different market from direct air capture and can be more economical when emissions are concentrated.
Best for: Industrial plants, engineering, and carbon storage infrastructure.
Which is actually best?
| Your priority | My first choice |
|---|---|
| Remove CO₂ already in the atmosphere | Climeworks |
| Build very large direct-air-capture capacity | 1PointFive |
| Explore modular capture technology | CarbonCapture Inc. |
| Capture emissions at a factory or industrial plant | Shell or a specialized industrial CCS provider |
These are best-fit recommendations, not a definitive ranking of capture efficiency or cost. The amount of CO₂ permanently stored, energy consumption, lifecycle emissions, and cost per net metric ton are the metrics I'd use to make a rigorous comparison.
One question so I can narrow it down
What are you looking to use carbon capture for?
Determining who offers the "best" carbon capture depends entirely on whether you mean Direct Air Capture (DAC) - pulling carbon straight out of the atmosphere - or Point-Source Capture , which stops emissions directly at industrial smokestacks (like cement, steel, or power plants).
The carbon capture and storage (CCS) industry is divided into a few distinct market leaders, categorized by their approach:
1. Direct Air Capture (DAC) Leaders
These companies capture ambient air to reverse historical emissions. They are favored by tech giants and corporations buying high-integrity carbon removal credits.
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Climeworks (Switzerland): Widely considered the pioneer and commercial leader in solid-sorbent Direct Air Capture. They operate multiple commercial facilities in Europe (such as Orca and Mammoth in Iceland) and rely on geothermal energy to power their modular capture fans. They have raised over $1 billion and secured extensive corporate off-take agreements. 10 Fastest Growing Carbon Capture Companies and Startups10 Fastest Growing Carbon Capture Companies and Startups
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1PointFive (USA - Occidental subsidiary): Built using technology originally developed by Carbon Engineering, 1PointFive is executing the largest industrial-scale DAC deployment in the world - the STRATOS facility in West Texas. It is engineered to capture up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, pairing massive capture capacity with dedicated deep geological sequestration. 10 Fastest Growing Carbon Capture Companies and Startups10 Fastest Growing Carbon Capture Companies and Startups
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Heirloom (USA): A prominent innovator using a low-cost limestone-based chemistry to naturally accelerate how rocks absorb CO2. By lowering the energy required for the mineralization cycle, Heirloom is scaling up major facilities (such as projects in Louisiana) to drive down the cost per ton of permanent carbon removal. 10 Fastest Growing Carbon Capture Companies and Startups10 Fastest Growing Carbon Capture Companies and Startups
2. Industrial Point-Source Capture Leaders
These companies focus on decarbonizing hard-to-abate heavy industries (cement, steel, chemicals, and power generation) where capturing emissions at the smokestack is critical.
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan): MHI is an established global heavyweight with decades of experience deploying chemical solvent-based carbon capture tech (via its proprietary KM CDR Process). They have successfully delivered numerous commercial-scale flue-gas capture projects worldwide.
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SLB Capturi (Global): Formed via SLB (formerly Schlumberger) and Aker Carbon Capture, this powerhouse combines decades of oilfield engineering muscle with advanced process tech to tackle massive industrial emissions (such as pulp, paper, and waste-to-energy plants). The Top 10 Carbon Capture Companies In 2025!
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Carbon Clean (UK/USA): Known for its modular, intensified carbon capture technology (CycloneCC), Carbon Clean reduces the physical footprint and cost of retrofitting carbon capture equipment onto existing industrial plants.
3. Permanent Mineralization & Storage Leaders
Capturing carbon is only half the battle; it must be stored permanently so it never returns to the atmosphere.
- Carbfix (Iceland): The undisputed pioneer in mineral storage. Carbfix dissolves captured CO2 in water and injects it deep into basaltic underground formations, where a natural chemical reaction turns the gas into stone in less than two years, permanently locking it away. Top 5 Carbon Sequestration Companies in 2026 - CarbonCredits.com
Summary: Who is "Best" for You?
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If you are looking at commercial maturity and large-scale deployments , Climeworks and 1PointFive lead the DAC space. 10 Fastest Growing Carbon Capture Companies and Startups
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If you are looking at heavy industrial factory retrofits , Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Carbon Clean lead in hardware and solvent efficiency.
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If you are looking at permanent, leak-proof underground storage , Carbfix sets the gold standard. Top 5 Carbon Sequestration Companies in 2026 - CarbonCredits.com
Determining who offers the "best" carbon capture depends entirely on whether you mean Direct Air Capture (DAC) - pulling legacy carbon out of the open atmosphere - or Point-Source Capture , which stops industrial emissions at the smokestack before they enter the air.
The carbon capture landscape is led by several standout organizations categorized by their approach:
1. Direct Air Capture (DAC) Leaders
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- Climeworks : Widely considered a pioneer and consumer-facing leader in DAC. Utilizing renewable geothermal energy in Iceland, their large-scale facilities (like Orca and Mammoth) permanently mineralize
CO2CO sub 2
CO2
underground. However, like many in the space, they face scaling and net-efficiency ramp-up challenges. 5 Best Direct Air Capture (DAC) Carbon Credits 2026Top 10 Leading Carbon Capture Companies in 2026
- 1PointFive (Occidental Petroleum) : Focuses on massive industrial-scale deployment. Their flagship STRATOS project in Texas is designed to capture up to 500,000 tons of
CO2CO sub 2
CO2
per year, backed by heavy fossil-to-clean infrastructure investment. [Carbelim +1]
- Heirloom Carbon Technologies : Utilizes an innovative, low-cost approach using limestone to naturally accelerate how much
CO2CO sub 2
CO2
minerals can absorb from the air, significantly driving down projected future energy costs. [Regreener]
2. Industrial Point-Source Capture Leaders
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- SLB Capturi (formerly Aker Carbon Capture) : A heavyweight in capturing emissions directly from "hard-to-abate" industrial sectors like cement plants, waste-to-energy, and refineries using advanced, modular amine-solvent technology.
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) : Long recognized as a global stalwart for reliable, large-scale chemical solvent post-combustion capture systems implemented across major power and industrial facilities. [Carbelim]
3. Mineralization & Storage Innovation
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- Carbfix : Based in Iceland, they specialize in the permanent underground storage of captured
CO2CO sub 2
CO2
, mixing it with water and turning it into solid stone in less than two years. They partner with multiple DAC providers to handle the permanent geological storage side of the equation. [Regreener]
If you are looking at this from an investment angle , a corporate buyer purchasing carbon credits , or out of technical curiosity , let me know so I can tailor the details.
There’s no single “best” - it depends on the application. For direct air capture, Climeworks is a prominent provider; for industrial and power-plant capture, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and SLB Capturi are notable options.(perfectsenseenergy.com)(carbelim.io)
The current leaders in carbon capture are Climeworks, Carbon Engineering (under Occidental Petroleum), and SLB Capturi. These three companies dominate different parts of the market: Climeworks in direct air capture (DAC), Carbon Engineering in large-scale industrial DAC, and SLB Capturi in point-source capture for heavy industries.Leaders in the fight against the climate crisis: Top 5 carbon sequestration companies for 2026 - co2news.skCarbon Capture Enters Its Strategic Moment - CCUS Xchange USA 2026Top 3 Carbon Capture Leaders to Drive the Net-Zero Race in 2026 • Carbon Credits
🌍 Key Players in Carbon Capture (2026)
| Company | Approach | Scale & Projects | Strengths | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Climeworks (Switzerland) | Direct Air Capture (DAC) | Orca (4,000 tons/year) & Mammoth (36,000 tons/year) in Iceland | Modular DAC systems, corporate contracts, permanence-first storage | High costs ($250–$600/ton), energy intensityCarbon Capture Enters Its Strategic Moment - CCUS Xchange USA 2026Top 3 Carbon Capture Leaders to Drive the Net-Zero Race in 2026 • Carbon Credits |
| Carbon Engineering (Occidental Petroleum, Canada/US) | Large-scale DAC using liquid solvents | Stratos plant in Texas (up to 1M tons/year) | Industrial scale, integration with storage & synthetic fuels | Still expensive, reliant on subsidiesCarbon Capture Enters Its Strategic Moment - CCUS Xchange USA 2026 |
| SLB Capturi (Norway/Global) | Point-source capture for cement, steel, refineries | Brevik cement plant (400,000 tons/year) | Proven industrial deployment, modular transportable units | Focused on industrial emissions, less suited for atmospheric removalLeaders in the fight against the climate crisis: Top 5 carbon sequestration companies for 2026 - co2news.sk |
| Carbon Clean (UK) | Point-source capture | Multiple industrial sites worldwide | Lower-cost modular systems for hard-to-abate sectors | Competes with larger players for scale[Top 10: Carbon Capture Platforms |
| Svante (Canada) | Filtration-based capture | Modular rotating contactor machines | Flexible across industrial & DAC use cases | Still scaling from pilot to commercial[Top 10: Carbon Capture Platforms |
🔑 What “Best” Means in Carbon Capture
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Scale & Permanence: Carbon Engineering leads in scale, while Climeworks leads in permanence-first storage.
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Industrial Integration: SLB Capturi is strongest for cement and steel, where emissions are unavoidable.
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Cost Efficiency: Carbon Clean and Svante are pushing for lower-cost, modular solutions.
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Innovation: New entrants like Mission Zero Technologies (electrochemical DAC) are experimenting with energy-efficient designs.Top 10: Carbon Capture Companies | Energy Digital
⚠️ Risks & Trade-offs
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Cost: Capture costs remain high ($250–$600 per ton), though falling with scale.
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Energy Use: DAC systems require significant renewable energy input.
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Policy Dependence: Current viability relies heavily on subsidies (e.g., U.S. Inflation Reduction Act tax credits, EU emissions trading).Top 3 Carbon Capture Leaders to Drive the Net-Zero Race in 2026 • Carbon Credits
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Criticism: Some experts argue CCS risks being a distraction from cutting emissions at source, allowing fossil fuel reliance to continue.Top 10: Carbon Capture Companies | Energy Digital
👉 If your interest is removing CO₂ directly from the atmosphere , Climeworks is the most advanced. 👉 If you want industrial-scale removal at lower cost per ton , Carbon Engineering is leading. 👉 For industrial point-source capture (cement, steel, refineries) , SLB Capturi is the strongest option.
Would you like me to compare cost-effectiveness vs permanence across these leaders, so you can see which offers the best balance for climate impact?
