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How a new process could help decarbonize the desalination industry

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By illuminem briefings

· 3 min read


illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Trellis or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: CarbonBlue has begun testing carbon removal technology at a desalination plant in Ma’agan Michael, Israel — a pioneering step toward integrating carbon dioxide removal (CDR) with water treatment
The company joins several other startups, including Captura, Ebb Carbon, and Capture6, in developing approaches that aim to simultaneously reduce emissions and meet the world’s rising demand for clean water
If scaled globally, such systems could remove hundreds of millions of tons of CO₂ annually

🔭 The context: Desalination is growing rapidly, with global capacity expanding at nearly 10% per year due to water scarcity
However, the process is energy-intensive and generates carbon emissions and brine waste. Several CDR startups are now embedding capture technologies directly into water treatment systems to address these environmental concerns
CarbonBlue’s system uses lime in a reactor to capture CO₂, while competitors employ electrochemical and solvent-based techniques
Carbon credits are a key financial mechanism for many of these firms

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The desalination sector could emit over 400 million metric tons of CO₂ this year alone. Integrated CDR offers a dual benefit — supporting water security while drawing down atmospheric carbon
But key challenges remain, including the carbon footprint of lime production, high energy demands, and the need for abundant renewable power
The technologies are promising, but their net benefit depends on overcoming these material and systemic barriers

⏭️ What's next: CarbonBlue aims to install a lower-emission lime production facility by 2026 to improve the lifecycle carbon performance of its process
Competitors like Captura and Ebb Carbon continue to secure long-term carbon credit deals, including contracts with Microsoft and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
Wider adoption will hinge on regulatory support, cheaper renewables, and verified carbon accounting
Progress over the next two to three years will determine whether desalination-integrated CDR becomes a scalable climate solution

💬 One quote: “Our approach is to provide industry with tools to decarbonize, not only without harming the value chain, but actually to make it more profitable.” – Adam Etzion, Director of Marketing, CarbonBlue

📈 One stat: Desalination-integrated carbon removal technologies consume 1.9 to 2.8 MWh of electricity per ton of CO₂ removed — equal to the energy used by an average American household over 2–3 months

Explore carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies on Data Hub™ — the first platform designed to help sustainability providers generate sales leads!

Click for more news covering the latest on carbon removal

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illuminem's editorial team, providing you with concise summaries of the most important sustainability news of the day. Follow us on Linkedin, Twitter​ & Instagram

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