Not your normal industrial site

Picture this: frost on the ground, a clear blue sky, and the warm, satisfying smell of roasted malt barley in the air. Around us, purple and green heather-clad hills and crystal-clear water bubbling through a burn. This is the beautiful, invigorating experience of visiting one of the many whisky distilleries in the Scottish Highlands. It’s also the site of one of Europe’s largest programs to capture and remove biogenic CO2 – operated by The Carbon Removers.

The process of producing biogenic CO2 is very different from the billowing smokestacks we often picture when we think of carbon capture. It happens in natural, rural environments – like here. At The Carbon Removers, we install equipment to capture, process, and transport biogenic CO2. We then ensure it is stored safely and permanently. This removes CO2 from the atmosphere, which helps fight climate change.

Did you know there were two types of CO2?

CO2 generally comes from one of two sources: fossil or biogenic.

• Fossil CO2 is embedded within fossil fuels. Millions of years ago, CO2 was absorbed by organic matter when atmospheric CO2 concentrations were much higher than today. Over time, that CO2 was trapped in geological formations, turning into oil, gas, and coal. When we burn these fuels, we re-release that ancient CO2 back into the atmosphere. Fossil CO2 is millions of years old.
• Biogenic CO2 is absorbed by plants through photosynthesis. As crops like wheat, barley, cotton, or trees grow, they capture CO2 from today’s atmosphere. Later, when these materials are burned, fermented, or decomposed, that CO2 is released again. Because it was only recently absorbed, it’s part of the natural carbon cycle. Biogenic CO2 is days, months, or years old.

When we capture and permanently store biogenic CO2, we break the natural cycle and reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. That helps us move toward net zero and help stabilise our climate.

A low-hanging fruit for climate action – with local benefits

At The Carbon Removers, we focus on capturing biogenic CO2 from what we see as “low-hanging fruit” – processes like fermentation and anaerobic digestion. For example, when we partner with a whisky distillery, we capture CO2 that was absorbed by barley just months earlier, likely from a field a couple of miles away.

This work has co-benefits. It supports local farmers, strengthens rural economies, and brings new skills and opportunities to the countryside.

Turning CO2 into stone – and building materials

So what happens to the CO2 after we capture it? We transport it to mineralisation sites, where it reacts with recycled limestone and turns into solid carbonate minerals. The resulting material can then be used as an aggregate in building materials. This achieves two things: we lock away CO2 permanently and produce a low-carbon material for construction.

We take quality seriously. Every project goes through strict evaluation criteria. You can read more about those here.

How this fits into the bigger climate picture

When we permanently remove biogenic CO2, the entire process is documented and verified, creating a certified carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credit. We track every detail: where the CO2 came from, when it was captured, the emissions involved in transport, how and when it was stored – and more.

Companies can buy these CDR credits to balance out their unavoidable emissions. Global standards like the SBTi make it clear that CDR should only be used for residual emissions that can’t be eliminated. We need to be confident that supporting CDR will never draw attention away from investing in clean energy or reducing energy consumption. CDR is an additional tool that supports a full transition to net zero. However – it is something that we can do today, so why wait?

Why wait?

Carbon removal can’t solve climate change alone. But it’s something we can do today, and every tonne we capture helps reduce the damage. Plus, it often happens in unexpectedly beautiful places.

So, next time you enjoy a dram of whisky, I encourage you to take a moment to think about the barley growing in the nearby fields, the pristine surroundings where it’s produced – and the teams working hard to make it a climate-positive experience and to make the world a little easier for the next generation.