CO2 Subsurface Storage
Innovating durable CO2 removal through hydrochar subsurface storage
Switzerland’s net-zero law mandates the removal of 0.5 Mt CO₂ annually by 2030 and 2 Mt by 2050 domestically (12 Mt in total), yet no large-scale Swiss solutions exist. Meanwhile, demand for durable Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is accelerating: companies pre-purchase high-quality credits years in advance at premium prices, while global demand is projected to reach 200 Mt annually by 2030 and 6–10 Gt by 2050. This gap constitutes both an implementation challenge and a strategic economic opportunity.
The company Recoal AG addresses this need with a unique “wet-residues-to-permanent-CDR” pathway. Through hydrothermal carbonisation, wet-residue biomass—an abundant and underutilised feedstock—is transformed into stable hydrochar and permanently stored in the subsurface. This approach valorises local biomass streams, avoids competition for valuable dry biomass, and generates independently certified removal credits with high permanence.
The research consortium around OST, Empa, VSH, and Recoal will deliver the world’s first full-scale pilot of hydrochar subsurface storage in Switzerland. By integrating engineered deposition, continuous monitoring, laboratory testing, and a digital twin, the project will validate permanence, safety, and operational protocols; creating the scientific and technical foundation for certification and regulatory uptake.
Innosuisse support is pivotal to bridge the innovation “valley of death”. The pilot requires significant upfront R&D and monitoring investment, while revenues from credit sales only materialise once permanence is validated. By de-risking this phase, Innosuisse enables rapid scale-up. Modular HTC units, established feedstock partnerships, and identified Swiss and European storage sites provide a pathway to 0.5 Mt removals annually by 2030. This positions Switzerland at the forefront of durable CDR, transforming a binding national obligation into an innovation-led domestic and export opportunity with lasting societal, economic, and environmental impact.
Research Partners
Hagerbach Test Gallery
OST
EMPA
Industry Partner
Recoal
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