A new consortium of UK clean technology companies has launched plans to build one of the world’s largest direct air capture (DAC) facilities, marking a significant step forward for the country’s carbon removal sector.

The UnionDAC project brings together low-carbon developer Progressive Energy with DAC technology companies Airhive and Mission Zero Technologies.

The consortium plans to develop a facility capable of removing 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year at the Wilton International site on Teesside.

The project will be delivered in two phases. An initial 20,000-tonne-per-year facility is expected to be operational by 2030, followed by a second phase adding a further 40,000 tonnes of annual capacity by 2032.

Direct air capture is increasingly viewed as an important technology for achieving global climate goals.

According to the International Energy Agency, up to 980 million tonnes of CO2 may need to be removed from the atmosphere annually by 2050, creating a potential market worth more than $100bn per year. Current global DAC capacity remains below 100,000 tonnes annually.

UnionDAC plans to connect to the Northern Endurance Partnership’s carbon capture and storage infrastructure, allowing captured carbon dioxide to be transported offshore and permanently stored beneath the North Sea.

The development would further strengthen Teesside’s position as a leading industrial decarbonisation hub, adding a new carbon removal sector to existing investments in carbon capture, hydrogen production and low-carbon power generation.

The project is expected to support the UK’s net zero ambitions while creating new opportunities for carbon removal and industrial applications that rely on captured carbon dioxide.