First direct air capture plant opens in Kielce as Europe tests carbon removal

Pierre Lambert
2 days ago
3 min read

The city of Kielce has inaugurated its first direct air capture (DAC) facility, marking a notable step in Europe’s climate technology landscape. The pilot project, developed by Oraquel S.A. in collaboration with the municipal government, reflects growing momentum behind carbon dioxide removal solutions as nations search for ways to balance emissions that cannot be easily eliminated.

The installation, powered entirely by solar energy and equipped with an innovative replaceable filter system, is designed to capture about 500 tons of CO₂ annually. Although this is a modest fraction of Poland’s yearly emissions, exceeding 300 million tonnes, the initiative carries symbolic importance. Beyond its technical role, the site functions as an educational tool, raising awareness of the links between urban energy efficiency, resilience, and emissions reduction.

How direct air capture works

DAC is a technology designed to remove CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. Large fans pull in surrounding air, which then passes through chemical filters that bind with the carbon dioxide. Once the filters are saturated, they are heated or processed to release a pure stream of CO₂, which can be stored underground or reused in industrial applications. In principle, this means DAC could help counterbalance unavoidable emissions from sectors such as aviation, cement, or agriculture. However, the process requires substantial amounts of energy, making renewable power integration essential to ensure genuine climate benefits.

Legal and policy enablers

The launch coincides with a crucial regulatory change. A recent amendment to Poland’s Mining Law permits onshore carbon storage, a necessary step for the deployment of DAC. Meanwhile, DAC and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) have been included in Poland’s revised National Energy and Climate Plan, pointing to an evolving climate strategy more aligned with European pathways.

Still, the barriers are significant. DAC technologies remain energy-intensive and expensive, with current capture costs ranging from €600 to €1,000 per tonne. Without coupling to low-emissions energy sources, their contribution to decarbonisation may be limited, underscoring the need for careful integration with broader energy policy.

Data and perspective

When placed against Poland’s renewable energy progress, the pilot’s scale becomes clear. In 2024, renewables generated roughly 27 per cent of Poland’s electricity, up from just 13 per cent in 2015. Wind and solar now provide more than 35 terawatt-hours annually, avoiding approximately 28 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions each year. By comparison, Kielce’s DAC unit removes only a fraction of this figure.

Yet experts argue that such comparisons, while sobering, are not grounds for dismissal. Rather, they highlight the complementary nature of carbon removal: technologies like DAC are unlikely to replace systemic emissions cuts but may play a vital role in offsetting residual emissions in sectors such as aviation, cement, and steel.

Local lessons with European relevance

For a country still heavily reliant on coal, the Kielce project also represents a subtle reorientation of public narrative. By showcasing technological innovation at a municipal level, it demonstrates how small-scale pilots can seed broader conversations about responsibility, investment, and cross-border collaboration.

Across Europe, DAC facilities are slowly proliferating, from Climeworks’ plant in Iceland to projects under development in the UK and Norway. While these efforts remain far from the gigatonne-scale removals outlined under the Sustainable Development Goals, they provide valuable insights into regulation, financing, and public engagement.

The Kielce facility may thus serve less as a solution in itself and more as a signal of intent, showing how local action can contribute to the broader European discussion on carbon management and long-term sustainability.