Carbon TerraVault Holdings, LLC (CTV), subsidiary of California Resources Corporation announced on 7 February that it has created a consortium of organizations across industry, technology, academia, national labs, community, government, and labor to create the California DAC Hub. The consortium will pursue U.S. Department of Energy funding (DOE) under its Regional Direct Air Capture (DAC) Hub’s initiative to create the California DAC Hub. This would be California’s first full-scale DAC plus storage (DAC+S) network of regional DAC+S hubs. 

California DAC Hub will help the Golden State achieve its 2030 and 2045 carbon removal goals and provide benefits to surrounding under-represented California communities such as air quality improvements. 

The funding is being pursued under the recent $3.5 billion Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to accelerate the commercialization of CO2 removal from the atmosphere, 

Non-profit energy research and development institute EPRI intends to submit an application to the DOE on or before 13 March. The consortium aims to launch the first hub in Kern County, California and will look to expand to other locations.

California Air Resources Board (CARB) included in its California Climate Plan carbon capture target of 20 million metric tonnes (MT) BY 2030 and 100 million MT by 2045. 

“It is very exciting that these organizations are working together cross-functionally to not only provide a carbon removal and storage solution but doing so using low carbon energy and providing economic benefits to California communities,” said California State Treasurer Fiona Ma. “This project is more than a shared DAC infrastructure project; it serves as a hub model that delivers community benefits and jobs for other parts of the U.S. that also face climate change induced challenges.”