The UnionDAC project in Teesside marks a significant step towards building a commercial direct air capture industry in the UK, with the potential to remove up to 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2032 and support regional decarbonisation efforts.
The launch of UnionDAC marks a notable step in Britain’s push to build a commercial direct air capture industry, with the Teesside project presented as the country’s first large-scale DAC scheme and one that could eventually remove up to 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by 2032.
The initiative brings together Progressive Energy, Airhive and Mission Zero Technologies, combining project development experience with home-grown DAC expertise. Its backers say the scheme is designed not only to demonstrate the technical viability of atmospheric carbon removal, but also to create an industrial base around it, supporting supply chains, skilled jobs and exportable clean-tech know-how.
Teesside has become an increasingly important location for industrial decarbonisation, and UnionDAC is expected to connect with the Northern Endurance Partnership transport and storage network if it progresses through the East Coast Cluster selection process. That linkage matters: for DAC to move beyond pilot scale, captured carbon must be moved and stored reliably, at acceptable cost, and in a way that can underpin long-term commercial contracts.
The project’s proponents are positioning it as more than a single plant. According to the launch announcement, UnionDAC is intended to help build the infrastructure, partnerships and operational capability required for durable greenhouse gas removals in the UK’s carbon markets. The target for a final investment decision is 2028, subject to government timelines.
The announcement comes as Mission Zero Technologies and Airhive have separately advanced smaller UK DAC demonstrations. Mission Zero has already opened a DAC plant at the University of Sheffield’s Translational Energy Research Centre, where it says the system captures 50 tonnes of CO₂ a year using water and solar electricity to provide high-purity carbon dioxide for sustainable aviation fuel work. The company has also launched a second plant in Norfolk, described as the world’s first fully integrated DAC-to-building-materials demonstration, with the potential to capture up to 250 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Airhive, meanwhile, has begun commissioning Project Tenet in Teesside, a 60-tonne-a-year pilot using a novel sorbent and new operating parameters. The company says the site is intended to test how DAC can fit into the wider East Coast Cluster and support the UK’s move towards lower-cost negative emissions systems.
The Climate Change Committee has said in its recent assessment of large-scale DAC carbon capture and storage that the technology could play a role in meeting UK removal targets, but only if policy, infrastructure and economics develop in step. That makes projects such as UnionDAC important not just as engineering exercises, but as early tests of whether the UK can translate climate ambition into a functioning removal market.
For Teesside, the significance is also regional. What was once a deeply carbon-intensive industrial base is increasingly being recast as a platform for decarbonisation technologies, with DAC now joining carbon capture, utilisation and storage as one of the area’s clearest growth narratives. If UnionDAC reaches investment stage, it would add weight to the argument that the UK can build a domestic removals sector rather than importing it later at greater cost.
- https://decarbonisationtechnology.com/news/2883/uniondac-uks-first-dac-project-officially-launched – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.missionzero.tech/lab-notes/uk-first-direct-air-capture-plant – Mission Zero Technologies has inaugurated the UK’s first direct air capture (DAC) plant at the University of Sheffield’s Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC). This facility captures 50 tonnes of CO₂ annually using water and solar electricity, supplying high-purity CO₂ for sustainable aviation fuel production. The project aims to validate the end-to-end production of jet fuel from atmospheric carbon, contributing to the UK’s net-zero objectives. The deployment underscores DAC’s role in meeting the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 1.5°C targets and reinforces the UK’s leadership in climate solutions.
- https://www.missionzero.tech/lab-notes/our-second-direct-air-capture-plant – Mission Zero Technologies has launched its second direct air capture (DAC) plant in Norfolk, marking the world’s first fully integrated DAC-to-building materials production demonstration. In partnership with O.C.O Technology and the UK Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, the plant captures up to 250 tonnes of CO₂ annually, converting it into carbon-negative aggregates for building materials. This initiative demonstrates DAC’s potential in carbon removal and utilisation, supporting the UK’s decarbonisation efforts and showcasing the viability of integrating DAC into industrial processes.
- https://www.airhive.earth/stories/dac-in-the-uk-our-teesside-system-is-now-ramping-up – Airhive has commenced commissioning Project Tenet, a 60-tonne-per-year direct air capture (DAC) system in Teesside, England. This pilot project aims to test new operating parameters and a novel sorbent developed over two years. The Teesside region, historically an industrial hub, is transforming into a centre for industrial decarbonisation, with DAC playing a crucial role. The project aligns with the UK’s East Coast Cluster initiative, which integrates DAC with carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) to reduce costs and establish the UK as a leader in negative emissions technologies.
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231109906701/en/In-historic-moment-for-CO2-removal-Heirloom-unveils-Americas-first-commercial-Direct-Air-Capture-facility-advancing-national-net-zero-goals – Heirloom has unveiled the United States’ first commercial direct air capture (DAC) facility in Tracy, California. The facility employs limestone rocks to extract CO₂ from the atmosphere, marking a significant advancement in CO₂ removal technologies. The project supports national net-zero goals and demonstrates the scalability of DAC solutions. The inauguration event featured Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm and other officials, highlighting the facility’s role in mitigating climate change and advancing the United States’ commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Assessing-the-Feasibility-for-Large-scale-DACCS-Deployment-in-the-UK-2.pdf – The UK’s Climate Change Committee (CCC) has published a report assessing the feasibility of large-scale deployment of Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) in the UK. The report includes an overview of existing and planned DAC projects, such as Climeworks’ Orca and Mammoth facilities in Iceland, and Mission Zero Technologies’ plants in the UK. It discusses the potential for DACCS to contribute to the UK’s carbon removal targets, the technological and economic challenges involved, and the policy measures needed to support its development and deployment.
- https://www.missionzero.tech/lab-notes/uk-government-funding – Mission Zero Technologies has been awarded a £240,000 contract by the UK government to pilot breakthrough direct air capture (DAC) technology by 2025. The funding, part of the Net Zero Innovation Portfolio administered by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS), aims to accelerate the development of early-stage technologies for removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This initiative supports the UK’s efforts to establish a greenhouse gas removal industry, potentially worth billions to the economy and contributing to the creation of new green jobs.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The news about UnionDAC’s launch was reported on June 11, 2026, with the earliest known publication date being June 11, 2026. ([oilprice.com](https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/UK-Clean-Tech-Firms-Plan-Europes-Biggest-Direct-Air-Capture-Project.amp.html?utm_source=openai)) The project is set to begin operations in 2030, with a target to capture 60,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2032. ([indexbox.io](https://www.indexbox.io/blog/uniondac-uk-firms-plan-europes-largest-direct-air-capture-facility-in-teesside/?utm_source=openai)) No earlier versions with differing figures or dates were found. The narrative appears original, with no evidence of being recycled from low-quality sites or clickbait networks.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
Direct quotes from company executives are used in the article. However, these quotes cannot be independently verified through online searches. The absence of verifiable sources raises concerns about the authenticity of the quotes. Without independent verification, the credibility of these statements is uncertain.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The article originates from a niche publication, Decarbonisation Technology, which may not have the same editorial standards as major news organisations. The lack of independent verification for the quotes further diminishes the reliability of the source. Additionally, the article does not provide links to primary sources or official statements from the companies involved, making it difficult to assess the accuracy of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims about UnionDAC’s launch and its objectives are plausible and align with the UK’s ongoing efforts in carbon capture and storage. However, the absence of independent verification for key details, such as the project’s timeline and capacity, raises questions about the accuracy of the information. The lack of supporting details from other reputable outlets further diminishes the credibility of the claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents information about the launch of UnionDAC, the UK’s first large-scale direct air capture project. However, the lack of independent verification for key details, such as the project’s timeline and capacity, raises significant concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information presented. The absence of corroborating reports from other reputable outlets and the reliance on a single, niche source further diminish the credibility of the content. Given these issues, the article cannot be considered fully reliable.
