Omani start-up 44.01 hopes to take its carbon-capture technology global after being declared winner of the 2022 Earthshot Award in the Fix Our Climate category.
Unlike carbon storage, which involves burying carbon dioxide underground in disused oil-wells or aquifers, 44.01 has developed a “mineralisation” process that removes the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere by converting it into rock.
“We are delighted to have been recognised by the Earthshot Prize,” said Talal Hasan, 44.01’s founder and chief executive, after Britain’s Prince William announced the 2022 winners in Boston on Friday.
“Mineralisation can offer a safe, cost-effective way of eliminating CO2 forever. Our challenge is to scale our solution internationally, and the Earthshot Prize will help us to do just that.”
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Prince William and wife Kate attend the second annual Earthshot Prize awards at MGM Music Hall at Fenway, in Boston, Massachusetts. Reuters -
Oscar-winning Egyptian-American actor Rami Malek stops on the green carpet for photographers. Getty Images / AFP -
Onlookers try to catch a glimpse of Prince William and Kate as they make their way into the MGM Music Hall. AP -
Prince William waves to the throngs of American fans in Boston. AP -
Onlookers arrive for the 2022 Earthshot Prize ceremony. AFP -
Kate makes 'going green' look effortless. Reuters -
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive for the ceremony. AP -
The Prince and Princess of Wales on the green carpet. Getty Images / AFP -
The Boston visit was the couple's first to the US since 2014. Reuters -
The royal couple greets US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. Reuters -
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and his wife Lauren make their way into the ceremony. Reuters -
The Prince and Princess of Wales stand with Hannah Jones, chief executive of the Earthshot Prize. AP -
The couple make their way into MGM Music Hall for the awards ceremony. Reuters -
Actress Shailene Woodley is a presenter at the awards ceremony. Reuters -
Prince William shows a bit of affection for wife Kate. Reuters -
Retired footballer David Beckham arrives at the second annual Earthshot Prize awards. Reuters -
Singer Ellie Goulding attends the second annual Earthshot Prize awards. Reuters -
Woodley arrives for the awards ceremony. Getty Images / AFP -
Mitt Romney, a US senator from Utah, and wife Ann attend the second annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. EPA -
R&B duo Chloe and Halle Bailey attend the second annual Earthshot Prize awards. Reuters -
Malek at the ceremony. EPA -
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and husband Conor Pewarski arrive for the ceremony. Reuters -
Actor Daniel Dae Kim and wife Mia pose for photos. Reuters -
Presenter and broadcaster Clara Amfo strikes a pose on the green carpet. Reuters -
Prince William and Kate's visit to the US concludes after the ceremony. AFP -
Beckham speaks to Ms Jones. AP -
Chloe and Halle Bailey are from Mableton, Georgia. PA
The second annual Earthshot Prize offered £1 million ($1.2 million) in prize money to each of the winners in five categories: nature protection, clean air, ocean revival, waste elimination and climate change.
The winners and all 15 finalists will receive aid in expanding their projects to meet global demand.
Mr Hasan’s company, named after the molecular mass of CO2, says it has already conducted successful pilots of its carbon capture process in Oman and plans to begin offering the technology commercially next year.
The company eliminates CO2 by mineralising it in peridotite, a rock found in abundance in Oman as well as in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australasia. Peridotite mineralisation is a natural process, which 44.01 says it is able to accelerate by injecting carbonated fluid into seams of peridotite deep underground.
It aims to mineralise one billion tonnes of CO2 by 2040.
According to a report by the Global Carbon Project released last month, global CO2 emissions are projected to reach 40.6 billion tonnes this year.
