Google has announced a new wave of investments in carbon capture power plants, signaling its intent to scale technologies that could help achieve net-zero emissions by 2030. Partnering with firms like Heirloom Carbon Technologies and Carbon Capture Inc., the company aims to remove at least 5 million tons of CO₂ from the atmosphere over the next decade. The initiative includes funding for direct air capture (DAC) projects in the U.S., designed to trap carbon directly from ambient air and store it underground or reuse it in products. Google’s move comes as global carbon capture capacity surpassed 50 million tons annually in 2025, driven by corporate climate pledges and government incentives under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act.
However, experts caution that the technology’s record remains mixed. Many carbon capture plants have underperformed or shut down due to high operational costs, low capture efficiency, and energy-intensive processes. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), fewer than 20% of global carbon capture projects operate at full capacity, and some even emit more CO₂ indirectly through the fossil fuels used to power them. Critics argue that heavy reliance on carbon capture risks delaying the transition to renewable energy, while supporters say it’s essential for hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel. As Google’s pilot plants go online, the world will be watching to see if Silicon Valley’s backing can turn carbon capture from a costly experiment into a viable climate solution. More