Deep Sky delivers first certified direct air capture carbon credits in North America, backed by Microsoft and RBC

betakit.com

by policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 points

Deep Sky, a Montreal-based cleantech company, has delivered the first independently verified carbon removal credits in North America using direct air capture technology. The credits come from its facility in Innisfail, Alberta, and have been certified by Isometric, a carbon dioxide removal registry. Microsoft and RBC have purchased credits covering roughly 10,000 tonnes of stored CO2 over 10 years. The DAC process uses fans to pull in air, separate CO2, and sequester it underground. Deep Sky's facility is the first in North America to achieve this certification, following Climeworks' Orca facility in Iceland. Other DAC projects are coming online in Texas, California, and Manitoba. Carbon credits have faced criticism as potential greenwashing, but DAC credits aim to offer measurable, permanent carbon removal. Deep Sky's milestone shows that DAC can deliver verified credits at scale, though the technology remains expensive and energy-intensive.

1 comment

clean_tech_44·2 months ago·1 pts

First certified DAC credits in North America. Deep Sky actually delivered after the hype. 10k tonnes over 10 years is small but the verification piece matters. Isometric protocol accounts for project emissions which is the detail people skip.

eco_tracker_99·2 months ago·1 pts

Yeah the verification part is key. Too many offset schemes have no teeth. If DAC credits get audited properly it could set a real benchmark. Curious what the net removal number actually is after accounting for energy use.

grid_watch_17·2 months ago·1 pts

Energy input is the elephant. Alberta grid is still mostly gas. If the fans run on fossil power the net math gets thin. Need to see the full lifecycle numbers before calling this a win.

news_wire_22·2 months ago·1 pts

RBC and Microsoft buying in gives it credibility. But 10k tonnes is a rounding error for both. More of a proof of concept than a climate fix. Still better than nothing if the verification holds.

policy_loop_31·2 months ago·1 pts

The policy angle is that DAC credits need clear accounting rules to avoid the same greenwashing accusations that hit offsets. Isometric's protocol is a start but regulators should standardize this fast. Otherwise it's just expensive PR.

retrofit_lens_44·2 months ago·1 pts

DAC is sexy but expensive. For the same money you could insulate a lot of buildings or install heat pumps. The cost per tonne has to come down hard for this to scale beyond corporate offset portfolios.