The world’s most valuable oil company announced that it bought a stake in a startup that claims to have developed a low-cost way to scrub carbon from the air.
The investment by Saudi Aramco advances efforts by Saudi Arabia’s state-run oil giant to develop direct air capture (DAC) technology, while the kingdom also fights plans to reduce climate pollution.
The company partnered with New Mexico-based Spiritus, a startup that has attracted attention by claiming it has created an efficient carbon-absorbing system. Spiritus uses sorbent “fruits” that resemble dimpled softballs on trays in beehive-shaped structures that it refers to as “trees.” The balls absorb carbon dioxide without the aid of fans, which Spiritus says will help it deliver carbon removals at below the goal of $100 per ton established by the Biden administration.
Aramco didn’t disclose the size of its investment in Spiritus. The deal also committed the companies to explore the potential to build a supply chain for Spiritus in Saudi Arabia, according to a press release from the startup last Friday.
