Kenyan start‑up pioneers direct air capture for carbon credits

What just happened?

Kenya’s Octavia Carbon is deploying prototype direct air capture (DAC) machines, powered by geothermal energy in the Rift Valley, each capturing around 10 tCO₂/year. They're storing CO₂ in basalt or selling it as credits, and plan to scale up to 1,000 t/year by next year. They've already secured about $3 million in credit contracts.

What does this mean?

This signals a shift toward tech‑based carbon removal in Africa, reducing reliance on tree‑planting offsets and diversifying supply. While critics cite “greenwashing,” the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) deems DAC necessary for hard-to-abate sectors.

How does this impact you?

• Political: Boosts Kenya’s climate leadership, potentially inspiring policy support for DAC globally.

• Economic: New investment and jobs in high-tech sectors; Africa enters carbon market supply chain.

• Social: Raises public awareness of tech-based climate action; may shift acceptance of carbon removal.

• Technological: Demonstrates feasibility of DAC powered by renewables—could drive innovation.

• Legal: Supports development of regulations around credit certification, storage liability.

• Environmental: Adds reliable, permanent CO₂ removal to portfolios; lessens pressure on forests.