Three Carbon Capture Leaders Shaping the Net-Zero Agenda in 2026

Carbon capture has moved decisively from the margins of climate policy into the core of global decarbonisation strategies. As governments tighten climate targets and companies confront emissions that cannot be fully eliminated, carbon capture is increasingly treated as essential infrastructure rather than a future option. By 2026, a small group of companies stands out for translating ambition into deployable solutions across removal and abatement.

Three players in particular have emerged as reference points in the sector: Climeworks, Carbon Engineering, and SLB Capturi. Each operates at a different point in the carbon value chain, together defining how residual emissions are managed in a tightening net-zero landscape.

 

Why Carbon Capture Has Become Central

 

The economics and policy context has shifted rapidly. According to BCC Research, the global carbon capture, utilisation, and storage market stood at $3.4 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $9.6 billion by 2029, growing at more than 23 percent annually. This expansion is being driven by regulation, incentives, and corporate demand for verifiable emissions reductions.

In the United States, tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act have made large-scale capture projects financially viable. In Europe, higher compliance costs under the expanded EU Emissions Trading System are pushing heavy industry toward capture solutions. At the same time, corporate buyers are locking in long-term offtake agreements for high-quality carbon removal credits.

Technological progress has reinforced this momentum. Capture costs have fallen sharply from early pilot levels, monitoring and verification systems have improved, and permanent storage options have expanded. By 2026, more than 20 direct air capture facilities are operating globally, although the bulk of captured carbon still comes from point-source projects in cement, steel, waste-to-energy, and hydrogen production.

 

Climeworks and the Rise of Portfolio-Based Carbon Removal

 

Climeworks remains the most visible name in direct air capture. The Swiss-based company pioneered modular DAC systems that extract carbon dioxide directly from ambient air using solid filters.

Its early projects in Iceland set industry benchmarks. The Orca plant captures around 4,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, while the newer Mammoth facility increases capacity to roughly 36,000 tonnes annually. Successive technology generations have reduced energy intensity, making DAC more scalable.

By 2026, Climeworks has also repositioned itself as more than a hardware provider. The company now offers diversified carbon removal portfolios tailored to corporate buyers, combining direct air capture with other engineered and nature-based approaches. This structure allows buyers to balance durability, cost, and co-benefits while addressing residual emissions, particularly across Scope 3.

Annual delivery of verified removal credits is expected to exceed 50,000 tonnes, with buyers including Stripe, Schneider Electric, and NYK. Prices remain high, typically between $600 and $800 per tonne, reflecting strong demand for durable, long-term removals.

 

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Carbon Engineering and Industrial-Scale Direct Air Capture

 

Carbon Engineering has taken a markedly different route to scale. Rather than modular units, the company focuses on large, industrial DAC plants designed to capture hundreds of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ each year.

Founded in Canada and acquired by Occidental Petroleum in 2023, the company uses a liquid solvent process in which air passes through contactors where CO₂ is absorbed and later regenerated into a concentrated stream. Occidental’s ownership has accelerated deployment by providing access to capital, storage infrastructure, and energy assets.

The Stratos facility in Texas is central to this strategy. By 2026, it is expected to capture between 500,000 and one million tonnes of CO₂ annually, making it the world’s largest DAC plant. Standardised plant designs and industrial equipment have helped drive capture costs down into the $250 to $600 per tonne range, supported by US tax incentives and long-term offtake agreements.

Beyond storage, Carbon Engineering is also linking capture to clean fuel production. Its Air-to-Fuels process combines captured CO₂ with green hydrogen to produce synthetic aviation fuels, directly targeting emissions in one of the hardest-to-abate sectors. This dual role places the company at the intersection of voluntary carbon markets and regulated fuel standards.

 

SLB Capturi and Emissions Prevention at Source

 

While direct air capture removes carbon after it has entered the atmosphere, SLB Capturi focuses on stopping emissions before release. The joint venture between SLB and Aker Carbon Capture specialises in point-source capture for industrial facilities.

Its amine-based systems can capture more than 95 percent of CO₂ emissions from cement plants, waste-to-energy facilities, gas processing units, and bioenergy operations. The company’s modular Just Catch™ units are designed for rapid retrofitting, allowing operators to reduce Scope 1 emissions without major operational disruption.

By 2026, SLB Capturi is positioned to support more than five million tonnes of annual capture capacity across Europe and North America. Many projects are directly linked to permanent storage sites, including offshore saline formations.

The company also plays a significant role in carbon markets. Bioenergy projects using its technology qualify as durable removals, with credits typically trading between $80 and $150 per tonne. Its integrated approach, spanning capture, transport, and storage, appeals to utilities, governments, and industrial operators seeking dependable compliance-grade solutions.

 

Explore OneStop ESG Marketplace: Carbon capture

 

What These Leaders Signal for 2026

 

Together, Climeworks, Carbon Engineering, and SLB Capturi illustrate how carbon capture has matured into a practical component of climate strategy. The market is no longer driven by experimentation or low-cost offsets, but by permanence, transparency, and verifiable impact.

As net-zero timelines approach, carbon capture is becoming less a question of whether and more a question of how fast and at what scale. These three companies show how removal and abatement can operate in parallel, translating climate targets into operational reality across industries that cannot decarbonise through electrification alone.

 

 

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