XPRIZE Carbon Removal recognized Project Hajar as demonstrating rapid, scalable capability to reach gigatonne deployment
Aircapture, a pioneer in modular direct air capture (DAC) technology, and 44.01, a CO2 mineralization company, have been awarded a $1 million XFACTOR recognition by XPRIZE Carbon Removal for Project Hajar, a groundbreaking carbon removal and mineralization project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The award recognizes the performance of the project as well as its capacity to reach gigatonne-scale carbon removal.
“This recognition from XPRIZE underscores the strength of our vision for deploying carbon removal infrastructure that is both rapidly scalable and economically viable,” said Matt Atwood, Founder and CEO of Aircapture. “While many are focused on future capabilities, our modular system is already operating in the field – delivering measurable results today. We’re honored that the XPRIZE judges acknowledged the commercial and technical merits of our approach, which is designed for near-term impact and long-term scalability.”
Talal Hasan, Founder and CEO of 44.01, said “The success of Project Hajar is testament to the leading roles DAC and mineralization can play in decarbonizing our atmosphere, providing new jobs and opportunities as we navigate the energy transition. Our climate needs decarbonization solutions that can be deployed at scale, and we are working hard to scale up our technology and export it around the world.”
Project Hajar, a collaboration between Aircapture and 44.01, integrates Aircapture’s modular DAC units with 44.01’s carbon mineralization technology, which permanently sequesters atmospheric CO2 by converting it into rock within subsurface geological formations. Aircapture’s DAC system reached full operational status in just 17 days – an unprecedented deployment timeline that sets a new benchmark for the rapid commercialization of DAC technologies. This accelerated implementation, enabled by Aircapture’s scalable, plug-and-play DAC architecture and seamless integration with permanent storage pathways, highlights the near-term viability and real-world impact of advanced carbon removal solutions.
Project Hajar was awarded the XFACTOR award for the strongest operational performance in the ‘Air’ category. The XPRIZE Judges assessed that Project Hajar performed exceptionally well in the competition and represents a compelling example of a safe, high-quality, scalable carbon removal solution with the potential to change our approach to the fight against climate change.
Aircapture’s modular “CO2 as a Service™” model demonstrates:
- Rapid deployment, in this case, in under three weeks
- Operation in a compact physical footprint (as little as a single parking space)
- Ultra-high (99.998%) purity CO2 capture
- Seamless integration with permanent sequestration partners
- On-site production for industrial and commercial applications
Aircapture is expanding its commercial deployments across North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Its approach supports partners seeking to decarbonize operations, stabilize supply chains, and meet sustainability goals with clean, high-quality CO₂ delivered at the source. This solution provides significant cost savings compared to traditional CO₂ suppliers by eliminating transportation logistics and offering consistent pricing unaffected by market volatility.
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