Passive, Scalable
Carbon Capture Technology
Carbon Collect’s MechanicalTree™ is a radical breakthrough in carbon capture, and sets a new benchmark for capturing CO2 from ambient air.
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From Scientific Vision to Scalable Reality
Carbon Collect is a technology leader developing innovative solutions to reduce global carbon emissions. The MechanicalTree™ marks a breakthrough in Direct Air Capture (DAC) by using natural airflow to capture CO₂. This eliminates the energy-intensive, fan-driven systems used in conventional DAC technologies. The Passive Direct Air Capture (PDAC) approach is more sustainable, scalable, and energy-efficient, with a modular design engineered for scalability and transportability. It can be deployed across a wide range of geographies and climate conditions worldwide.
The MechanicalTree™ is built on the foundational research and intellectual property developed by Professor Klaus Lackner at Arizona State University (ASU), a global pioneer in Direct Air Capture. This foundational work established the scientific basis for passive DAC. Carbon Collect was the first to develop a low-temperature thermal vacuum swing system, regenerating at temperatures well below 100 °C, and to introduce advanced non-metallic materials that simplify production and improve durability. These innovations enable DAC to scale more efficiently than the metal-intensive, fan-driven systems typical of earlier designs, advancing the technology from laboratory research to practical, commercial deployment.
The Gen-II MechanicalTree™ represents a major milestone, addressing challenges that have limited the scalability and cost-effectiveness of earlier DAC systems. Built with lightweight, non-metallic materials, it achieves significant gains in efficiency and environmental performance, reducing lifecycle emissions and lowering capture costs toward our goal of under $200 per ton by 2030.
Engineering Carbon Removal
Carbon Collect takes a technology-first approach to Direct Air Capture, focusing on engineering excellence and continuous innovation before large-scale deployment. The MechanicalTree™ is a patented system, developed through extensive research and design optimisation to deliver a uniquely passive, modular, and energy-efficient solution for capturing CO₂ from ambient air.
Our engineering programme has already engaged over 130 specialists and technical contributors, drawing on expertise in mechanical and process engineering, sorbent science, composite materials, control systems, and modular manufacturing design. This multidisciplinary foundation now extends to the development of AI and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) tools that will enable future Smart DAC systems to self-optimise performance, energy use, and maintenance cycles across large-scale deployments.
POWERED BY THE WIND
In the MechanicalTree™, the wind is the fan. Air moves naturally through open, vertical disks with an ultra-low pressure drop. This allows vast volumes of air to pass quietly and continuously, even at very low wind speeds and gentle ambient air movement, without energy input. Inside each disk, a thin layer of sorbent material captures CO₂ with remarkable efficiency. When heated gently by low-grade steam under vacuum, the CO₂ is released for collection and reuse. A beautifully engineered, clean and elegant system designed to work in harmony with nature.
From Concept to Global Deployment
Built on three decades of research and foundational IP from Arizona State University, Carbon Collect’s MechanicalTree™ represents the world’s first passive Direct Air Capture system, and the first to demonstrate a low-temperature thermal–vacuum swing process for CO₂ capture. The company is now moving from field demonstration to global deployment through scalable, manufacturable designs engineered for real-world conditions.
Working closely with leading manufacturing and engineering partners, Carbon Collect is developing the design, production, and integration methods required to scale DAC efficiently and economically. The company’s research and development efforts have also been supported through participation in U.S. Department of Energy programmes advancing Direct Air Capture technologies.
This collaborative approach ensures that each generation of the MechanicalTree™ delivers measurable gains in efficiency, durability, and manufacturability, advancing Direct Air Capture as a practical, scalable industrial process.
1,000 Ton/Year
18-unit cluster for steady CO₂ output
High Purity CO2
95% to 99.9% purity CO2
Modular and Scalable
From clusters to large carbon farms
The Global Warming Problem
Carbon Collect's MechanicalTree™ is a modular Direct Air Capture solution, designed for versatile deployment across diverse geographies and climate conditions to combat climate change. Unlike other systems that rely on forced convection using energy-intensive fans, the MechanicalTree™ leverages natural wind to deliver CO2 to the capture system, making it a more sustainable and efficient alternative.
Video explainer - a simple explanation of climate change from the New York Times.