• Pioneering Project: Project Concho, located in Texas, will be the world’s first wind-powered Direct Air Capture (DAC) hub, targeting CO₂ removal of 50,000 tons annually by 2030, with plans to scale to 500,000 tons per year.
• Renewable Energy Collaboration: The hub will utilize a new wind farm by Greenalia and modular DAC technology from Skytree to ensure energy efficiency and carbon capture optimization.
• Economic and Environmental Benefits: Local landowners gain new income streams through carbon sequestration while supporting sustainable land use and economic growth in the Concho Valley.

A Revolutionary Carbon Removal Initiative

Return Carbon and Verified Carbon have announced Project Concho, a groundbreaking Direct Air Capture (DAC) hub to be built in Tom Green County, Texas. This facility will be the first DAC hub globally to operate entirely on wind power. Initially targeting the removal of 50,000 tons of CO₂ annually by 2030, Project Concho plans to scale operations to 500,000 tons per year, generating verified carbon credits for the carbon market.

“Project Concho is a significant step forward in scaling up DAC,” said Martijn Verwoerd, Managing Director of Return Carbon. “This opportunity aligns perfectly with Return Carbon and Verified Carbon’s joint mission to mitigate climate change through the scalable commercialization of new technologies in impactful infrastructure projects.”

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Partnership Between Renewable Energy and Carbon Capture

The hub’s wind energy will come from a new farm developed by Greenalia, a leading renewable energy producer, while Skytree’s state-of-the-art DAC technology, born out of the European Space Agency, will power its carbon removal efforts.

Alexandre Alonso, SVP of Business Development at Greenalia, highlighted the unique collaboration:

“The flexibility offered by the DAC hub to optimize around energy price peaks is a game changer for renewable energy projects. It not only strengthens the business case for our wind farm under development in Texas but also contributes to adding innovative business models and alternatives for a greener energy landscape in the U.S.”

Cutting-Edge Technology for Maximum Efficiency

Project Concho will use Skytree’s Stratus DAC units, known for their modular design and 24/7 operational capability, to ensure optimal CO₂ capture.

“Deploying DAC at scale is necessary to drive down costs across the value chain and achieve greater impact,” said Elena Nikonova, VP North America at Skytree.

Local Economic and Environmental Impact

Beyond climate benefits, the project provides new revenue streams for local landowners while promoting sustainable land use.

Coleman White, co-founder of Verified Carbon and Concho Valley landowner, stated:

“Projects like these allow us to maintain traditional land uses while benefiting from a new income source and supporting projects that sustain both our environment and local economy.”

Project Concho sets a precedent for integrating renewable energy with large-scale carbon removal, paving the way for future innovations in sustainable infrastructure.

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