EERC and Origen Kick Off Construction of Direct Air Capture Demo in Grand Forks
The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) welcomed leaders from Origen to Grand Forks last week to officially kick off the construction phase of a previously announced large-scale carbon removal demonstration project. The collaboration between the two organizations will advance Origen’s limestone-based direct air capture (DAC) system at 1000 tonnes per year of carbon removal, marking a significant step toward commercialization of the technology.
During the weeklong visit, Origen and EERC teams toured the EERC’s advanced carbon management facilities to review early progress on construction and begin detailed planning for testing operations. The demonstration, expected to be operational in 2025, will validate Origen’s differentiated approach using limestone chemistry to absorb CO₂ from the air.
“This partnership brings together Origen’s innovative carbon removal technology with the EERC’s deep expertise in carbon storage and management,” said Charlie Gorecki, EERC CEO. “North Dakota is an ideal location for this work, and we’re proud to be advancing solutions that can play a role in addressing global carbon challenges.”
Origen's DAC technology uses the natural chemistry of abundantly available limestone rock to remove CO2 from the air with its proprietary lime kiln design and low-intensity air contactor. This highly scalable approach to DAC is complemented by Origen’s unique flexibility for multiple fuels, enabling a low-electricity deployment that avoids short-term energy challenges faced by other DAC providers while maintaining optionality to evolve with the energy mix over time. By testing the technology in real-world conditions, the project will provide critical data to scale up carbon removal efforts in North Dakota.
“This project with the EERC is a significant step toward commercializing Origen’s direct air capture technology,” said Ben Riddle-Turner, Origen CEO. “We are pleased with the early construction progress in North Dakota and look forward to testing results later this year.”
The kickoff marks the first phase of an ongoing collaboration between Origen and the EERC. As the project progresses, both teams will continue working closely to refine the technology, optimize its performance, and explore opportunities for broader deployment.