DACMA and eFUEL GROUP open DAC competence centre in Hamburg. Oct 21 2026 The new research and development center at the Hamburg Blue Hub combines the testing of modular CO2 capture technologies with the preparation of international applications. A key focus is the collaboration with the Canadian project developer Deep Sky. "How the technology performs in ongoing operation is crucial for the further development of our plants. The DACMA Competence Center enables us to feed insights from testing directly back into development. This allows us to base technical decisions on a broader data set," said Alexander Backs, CO-CEO of DACMA GmbH. Hamburg's Senator for Economic Affairs, Dr. Melanie Leonhard, joined company representatives in marking the official launch as part of the Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Technology World Expo. Among the keynote speakers was Evelyne Coulombe from the Canadian Embassy. Her visit underscored the importance of German-Canadian cooperation in the field of CO2 capture. "In Hamburg, we are developing new technologies and bringing them into industrial practice," Dr. Leonhard said. "The DACMA Competence Center creates new opportunities for this. Here, companies and research institutions can work together to explore how CO2 from the ambient air can be used as a raw material for industry." "This also aids in the development of synthetic fuels that will be needed in the future for aviation and shipping. With this expertise, we are strengthening Hamburg as a hub for innovation and industry and laying the groundwork for the emergence of new business models and industrial applications here." At the DACMA Competence Center, modular DAC systems are tested under real-world industrial conditions. The focus is on investigating technical components and materials, as well as analyzing operational processes and energy and material flows. In collaboration with international universities and research institutions, the goal is to develop approaches for technical optimisation. German-Canadian Collaboration for International DAC Projects DACMA and the Canadian project developer Deep Sky are working together on the further development and deployment of direct air capture technology in Canada. The partnership includes an initial DACMA facility with a planned capture capacity of 600 metric tons of CO2 per year, as well as the joint development of the next generation of technology for larger facilities. Deep Sky combines the capture of CO2 from the ambient air with permanent geological storage. Evelyne Coulombe praised the partnership between DACMA and Deep Sky as a milestone in German-Canadian cooperation and as a groundbreaking impetus for both countries' joint commitment to decarbonisation. "The decarbonisation of industry is a challenge, but also an opportunity. Canada offers ideal conditions for climate-friendly production. Companies benefit from clean electricity and access to raw materials, CO2 storage capacity and infrastructure, as well as a stable investment environment," she said. Deep Sky has set a goal for its future large-scale facilities to remove one million metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. This figure represents a target for future expansion, not a removal capacity that has already been achieved. What matters for the climate is how much CO2 is permanently removed after deducting emissions from construction, operation, transportation, and storage: A verified net removal of one million metric tons would remove this amount of CO2 from the atmosphere each year. "At Deep Sky, we focus on bringing the world's best technologies for direct air capture (DAC) to an industrial scale. Our collaboration with DACMA demonstrates what is possible when companies work together across borders to develop and scale the technologies needed to build a global carbon capture industry. The Competence Center in Hamburg underscores our shared vision: Practical application is the crucial step toward understanding how the technologies function under real-world conditions and building on that knowledge as we prepare to bring DACMA's first plant to Deep Sky," said Alex Petre, CEO of Deep Sky. The DACMA Competence Center's initiatives also include the PEGASUS project, a collaboration between DACMA, eFuel DAC GmbH, and the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH). The project focuses on the experimental advancement of DAC technology and the investigation of its integration into an eMethanol process chain that uses atmospheric CO2 as a carbon source. Accompanying process simulations examine the interaction between CO2 capture, hydrogen from renewable sources, and methanol synthesis. The goal is to identify ways to coordinate energy, heat, and material flows, thereby improving the efficiency and economic viability of the integrated process chain. "Direct Air Capture is a pragmatic and easily implementable supplement for achieving climate goals with a very significant impact. The DACMA Competence Center creates the conditions necessary to further develop this proven technology and to test the integration of CO2 capture into downstream production processes. With the negative emissions generated by this technology, Hamburg could realistically achieve the goals of the Climate Decision without jeopardizing jobs in Hamburg's industrial sector," explained Hanspeter Tiede, Managing Director of eFuel DAC GmbH. As part of the eFUEL GROUP, the company specializes in investments in projects and technologies for CO2 capture from ambient air. "To produce eFuels, eSAF, and eMethanol, we need to combine renewable energy, hydrogen, and suitable carbon sources. Our focus is therefore on integrating DAC into these production chains. Together with DACMA, we want to investigate the interfaces between CO2 supply and downstream processing," said Lorenz Kiene, Managing Director of the eFUEL GROUP.

Alberta's Smith at the Canada Investment Summit seeks backing for 34 major projects. Updated: September 14, 2026 at 6:31p.m. EDT Published: September 14, 2026 at 5:56p.m. EDT Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is in Toronto this week for the first Canada Investment Summit with plans to get backing for 34 major projects, each worth $200 million or more. But with the referendum nearly a month away, some say that investors may be looking elsewhere for the time being. "Anytime we're seeing a certain level of uncertainty in the market, and when it comes to investment, investment will go where their dollars are safe," said Heather Thomson, vice-president of economy and engagement at the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. "When there is political instability or if there is talk of a referendum, that money will stop." Meanwhile, Yves Giroux, a C.D. Howe Institute fellow, says investors have been looking at polling that suggests more Albertans want to remain in Canada. "Most of the advantages would still be there, at least for the foreseeable future. Oil and gas will remain there," Giroux told CTV News Edmonton. Jason Vanderheyden, vice-president of government affairs and policy at Deep Sky, is seeking $350 million to build the company's second carbon capture and sequestration facility in Alberta. "Alberta is top of mind for many of those in the investment community, and we're seeing a lot of enthusiasm, especially as it relates to the regulatory environment that the province has to offer and the conditions for growing not just our sector but others," said Vanderheyden. "We're really encouraged at the very positive and optimistic view that investors have on Alberta specifically." During CTV Question Period, Smith said she is not worried that the referendum will scare potential investors away. "We will have an answer from Albertans on Oct. 19 and then we will have the next months and years to be able to land some of those decisions and investments," said Smith. "In the case of Alberta, it's not a nail-biter." The Canada Investment Summit ends Tuesday. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Chelan Skulski