Decarbonisation Technology May 2026 Issue

transition to commercial deployment. The current development plan targets a total installed capacity of 1,500 tCO₂ per year, delivered across three phases: an initial 100 tCO₂/year foundation, followed by an expansion of 480 tCO₂/ year, and a final scale-up adding 920 tCO₂/year. This phased approach allows capacity to be added progressively while managing technical, operational, and regulatory risk, with full build-out expected by early 2027. More broadly, DAC is highly

Figure 3 Octavia Carbon DAC plant

scalable as it can be deployed anywhere with access to renewable electricity and the thermal energy required for the desorption process (desorption = CO 2 release phase). When paired with basalt rock formations (which are present in Kenya’s Rift Valley region), CO 2 can be mineralised into stable carbonates, ensuring the carbon is locked away permanently for millions of years. Summary The CO 2 probes developed by Vaisala are specifically designed for challenging applications like Octavia’s. With ‘taking every measure for the planet’ as its core purpose, this project is a perfect example of the ways in which Vaisala’s measurement technology is helping to fight climate change. Ultimately, the role of DAC will be dictated by the cost/tonne of CO2 captured. The Rift Valley benefits from carbon-free geothermal energy, but the scalability of Octavia’s technology will depend heavily on process optimisation. Accurate and reliable CO 2 measurements are essential for both the process optimisation and operational teams at Octavia. Without accurate measurements, it would not be possible to select and improve sorbent performance. Similarly, accurate measurements enable effective process control, which allows operational staff, for example, to identify the exact moment of sorbent saturation. The accurate and timely identification of the sorbent saturation point is essential for

process efficiency, helping to maximise CO2 capture while minimising costs, saving time and lowering process energy consumption. Finally, and possibly most importantly, it is essential that Octavia’s customers have full confidence in the accuracy and reliability of the CDR that they purchase. It is therefore working with partners such as Carbonfuture to develop and implement a digital monitoring, reporting, and verification system to enhance transparency around CO₂ capture. The process is aligned with the Puro.earth methodology, and credits are to be issued following third-party verification in accordance with the Puro standard requirements, which will be underpinned by third-party accreditation. With an abundant supply of renewable energy, the Rift Valley is an ideal location for DAC projects, and with the benefit of accurate CO 2 measurements, Octavia engineers are able to enhance and optimise process control so that DAC can become a viable decarbonisation opportunity.

CARBOCAP is a trademark of Vaisala.

Samy Oumaziz samy.oumaziz@vaisala.com Antti Heikkilä antti.heikkila@vaisala.com Khamis Mwalwati Muniru khamis@octaviacarbon.com