Crepes and pancakes: a surprising analogy
At Climeworks, we've evolved from being pioneers in Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology to becoming leaders in high-quality carbon removal solutions. This shift represents a natural progression in our mission to remove millions, then billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air.
To understand why this evolution matters, let's explore it through an unexpected but illuminating analogy: breakfast.
The depth of DAC: pancake
If Direct Air Capture were a breakfast item, it would be a stack of pancakes. Here's why:
Concentrated impact: Like pancakes, DAC technology is substantive and focused. It occupies a limited physical footprint with density of impact.
Vertical scaling: A single pancake is good, but the real power comes from stacking them strategically. Similarly, DAC plants can be scaled, intensifying carbon removal in a concentrated area.
Engineering excellence: Pancakes require specific ingredients, precise measurements, and controlled cooking conditions—somewhat like the engineered precision of DAC facilities.
Specialized solution: Both pancakes and DAC excel at doing one thing very well: pancakes deliver a hearty, uniform breakfast experience, while DAC excels at pulling CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, in a highly measurable, additional, durable and overall qualitative way.
The breadth of carbon removal: crepes
Carbon removal as a category is more like a spread of crepes:
Versatility: Crepes are versatile, covering more surface area while being thinner. Similarly, the carbon removal landscape includes diverse technology-based and nature-based approaches.
Portfolio: You might enjoy one crepe with a simple topping or create a diverse portfolio of flavors and fillings. Carbon removal similarly embraces multiple solutions—from biochar and enhanced rock weathering to Direct Air Capture, BECCS, and reforestation—each addressing different aspects of the challenge.
Adaptability: Crepes can be sweet or savory, rolled or folded, simple or complex. Carbon removal solutions likewise adapt to different contexts, scales, and needs.
Transformational potential: When layered together, as in a mille-crepes cake, simple crepes transform into something different altogether. The various carbon removal approaches, when thoughtfully combined, create a comprehensive solution greater than the sum of its parts.
Why we need both approaches
At Climeworks, we appreciate a versatile breakfast—and we know that achieving net zero isn’t about choosing between technologies, but about combining the right ones at the right time.
Some climate challenges require the focused intensity of a DAC "pancake stack." Others benefit from the versatile, wide-reaching approach of the carbon removal "crepe spread." Most often, we need both working in concert.
Our expertise in developing and scaling DAC technology has given us unique insights into the entire carbon removal ecosystem. We understand both the pancake stack and the crepe spread—and more importantly, we understand how they complement each other.
Building a balanced action plan
Just as nutritionists recommend a balanced breakfast, science and standards emphasize the need for a balanced approach to reductions and removals:
Reduce emissions – the equivalent of not overeating in the first place
Neutralize unavoidable emissions – comparable to making healthier choices where possible
Remove excess carbon already in the atmosphere – like addressing the accumulated effects of past habits
Join us at the table
At Climeworks, we're proud of our DAC history—those wonderful pancakes we've spent years perfecting. But we're equally excited about our role in the broader carbon removal landscape, helping individuals and organizations create the right mix of solutions for their own journey.
Because when it comes to building a resilient and prosperous future, the question isn't pancakes or crepes. It's how we thoughtfully combine all ingredients to create the most effective solution.
Ready to take your seat at the table?
Join the Climeworks Pioneers driving the change we need