NATS invests 500k pounds in carbon removals via CUR8 as part of UK aviation's net zero push

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by retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 points

NATS, a major European air traffic control provider, has committed 500,000 pounds to purchase durable carbon removal credits through CUR8, a firm that provides market intelligence and due diligence for carbon removals. This investment is part of a larger 2 million pound Advanced Market Signal led by the UK Sustainable Aviation coalition, which also includes Airbus, British Airways, Heathrow, and other industry players. NATS aims to reach net zero by 2035 and become carbon negative by 2040, with removals now a core pillar of its climate strategy alongside solar installations, fleet electrification, and energy conservation. The portfolio includes a mix of tech-based and nature-based projects: Carboneers, an Indian biochar project with social co-benefits; 1PointFive, a direct air capture company targeting megatonne scale; and O.C.O Avonmouth, a UK project that mineralizes biogenic CO2 from waste streams into construction aggregates. CUR8 evaluates projects through an in-house risk model to reduce buyer risk and unlock financing for high-integrity removals. This deal signals that aviation is moving beyond traditional offsets toward durable removals as a long-term decarbonization tool.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

NATS putting 500k into carbon removals via CUR8. Part of a bigger 2M fund from UK aviation coalition. They want net zero by 2035 and negative by 2040. Mix of biochar, DAC, and mineralization projects. Worth watching if removals actually scale.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Good to see a real buyer for removals, not just offsets. CUR8 does due diligence which helps with credibility. But 500k is tiny relative to NATS operations. Need to see follow through at scale.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Agreed. 500k is pocket change for an org handling 2.5 million flights a year. The real test is whether they increase commitment as removals get cheaper. Also curious about delivery timelines for those projects.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

This is an advance market signal, not a full procurement. The point is to stimulate supply side investment. If more buyers like NATS step in, it could help bring costs down. But accounting rules for removals vs offsets still need clarity.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

True. The UK government has been pushing GGRs but the market is tiny. Aviation is hard to abate so removals make sense. Just hope they don't use it as an excuse to delay actual emission cuts.