9 November 2026
Together with their partners, Forschungszentrum Jülich and the DACStorE project are sharing their scientific expertise on CO₂ capture at the COP31 World Climate Conference in Antalya. The focus is on the conditions under which direct air capture (DAC) can contribute to climate protection in East Africa, whilst simultaneously creating new opportunities for technological self-reliance, skilled workforce development, and local value creation. The collaboration combines technological research with regional experience and the desire to collectively create new perspectives for the participating countries.
International climate targets can only be achieved if greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced worldwide. In this context, technologies that remove CO₂ already emitted into the atmosphere are becoming increasingly important. Direct air capture offers new perspectives in this regard, particularly for countries like Kenia. Favourable natural conditions could enable the permanent storage of CO₂ and simultaneously facilitate the development of new economic sectors, the creation of skilled employment opportunities, and the development of local technological expertise. As one of Europe's largest interdisciplinary research centres, Forschungszentrum Jülich combines climate and energy research with the development and evaluation of such technologies. Together with its partners in the DACStorE project, FZJ is exploring how direct air capture can be deployed responsibly under suitable technical, economic, and political conditions.
At the conference from 9-20 November 2026, FZJ, together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the Carbon Removal Kenya Association, and the Nuvoni Centre for Innovation Research, is organizing two events with different focal points. The pavilion of the "Think Negative" initiative will focus on responsible direct air capture in East Africa. An official side event will focus on the decarbonization of the cement industry, as one of the world's largest industrial sources of CO₂, as well as potential contributions to local value chains.
From a framework to concrete applications
Direct air capture (DAC for short) refers to the extraction of carbon dioxide directly from the ambient air. Within the DACStorE project, funded by the Helmholtz Association, six Helmholtz centres and TU Berlin are investigating technical solutions for DAC and the storage of CO₂ in geological formations. The interdisciplinary project aims to conduct comprehensive research into the technology and support its sustainable deployment on a larger scale in Germany.
At the session in the "Think Negative" pavilion, the partners will present the latest findings from the DACStorE research project in combination with insights from Kenya's first national dialogue on early and responsible DAC deployment, which was held in Nairobi on 1 September 2026. The scientific contributions will look at technological developments, key cost drivers, and the relevance of East Africa in this field. At the same time, the event will address the political and institutional conditions that are necessary for large-scale deployment. Responsible CO2 capture is viewed in this context as a complementary measure to reducing emissions.
"Kenya offers particularly favourable conditions for direct air capture," says Dr. Mak Dukan, scientific lead of the DACStorE project. "In the Great Rift Valley, geothermal resources provide a renewable source of energy that is available around the clock. The basalt formations there, which are underground layers of volcanic rock, can store the captured CO2, so together with partners, we can inject this CO2 directly underground. It reacts with the rock there and is permanently locked into it. Kenia also has well-trained engineers. All in all, the country has the potential not only to become one of the best locations but also a technological leader for direct air capture."
The official side event looks at how direct air capture could help to decarbonize the cement industry. The manufacturing of cement for buildings and infrastructure accounts for a significant amount of CO2 worldwide. At the event, the Nairobi-based start-up Zen Carbon will showcase its work. Using this application as an example, the discussion will explore how DAC can create local economic value. The side event will continue the dialogue from the "Think Negative" pavilion and extend it to include a real, industrial application.
International collaboration with regional benefits
The collaboration places particular emphasis on the priorities of the participating countries and the benefits for local communities. African partners bring their own scientific and technological expertise to the collaboration, alongside their individual interests, experiences, and research questions. They aim to advance the development of direct air capture and establish themselves as long-term leaders in the field. Together, the participants are exploring how CO₂ capture can be integrated into national climate strategies, how environmental and social safeguards can be put in place from the outset, and how demand and funding mechanisms can be developed. Other objectives include training a skilled workforce, developing local expertise in DAC deployment, and strengthening economic prospects in the region. The respectful use of local resources and consideration of cultural contexts also play an important role in this context.
Jülich is combining its scientific expertise with international networking at the interface between research, climate policy, and deployment. The discussion between policymakers, industry, and society is geared towards producing concrete recommendations for action. Plans include a draft policy framework for responsible DAC in East Africa and a joint roadmap ahead of COP32. The ambition is to build on the conference and foster long-term cooperation that advances the responsible development of the technology.
