Virgin Atlantic signals intent to use proposed UK carbon-capture facility

Virgin Atlantic has signed an MOU to become a customer for a proposed direct air capture (DAC) facility in Scotland. The UK carrier says the technology – which strips carbon dioxide from air and deposits it underground – could be a “powerful tool” as it seeks to reach net-zero CO2 emissions by 2050. “Innovation and sustainability leadership is firmly in our DNA and we’re excited to be the first in the aviation industry to partner with Storegga to progress the development of direct air capture solutions in the UK,” says Virgin Atlantic CCO Juha Jarvinen. “We hope that early adoption of this technology and development of a facility here in the UK will demonstrate the commercial potential of DAC and inspire other businesses to be involved.” According to the two businesses hoping to develop the facility – Storegga and partner Carbon Engineering – “DAC provides a high quality, cost-effective way to permanently eliminate CO2 emissions from the atmosphere”. They note that the technology could also remove CO2 emissions “from the past”, meaning it could go further than net-zero targets “to achieve net negative emissions and full climate restoration”.<br/>