‘Project Concho’ Combines Proven DAC Technology, New Local Wind Power And Texas’ Carbon Storage Capacity

SAN ANGELO, Texas, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Carbon capture and removal project developers Return Carbon and Verified Carbon today announced ‘Project Concho,’ a pioneering Direct Air Capture (DAC) hub to be built in Tom Green County, Texas. Project Concho will be the first DAC hub in the world to run entirely on wind power and will leverage advanced DAC technology as well as onsite geological carbon storage to capture and permanently remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. In its first phase, the facility aims to remove 50,000 tons annually before 2030, with expansion plans to reach 500,000 tons per year, in turn creating premium, verified carbon credits that hold significant value in carbon markets.

Project Concho will be powered by a new wind farm to be built and operated by Greenalia, a leading global renewable energy producer with presence in wind and solar in Europe and the United States. The technology underpinning Project Concho will be provided by Skytree, an industry-leading carbon removal company born out of the European Space Agency with DAC units in deployment across Europe, Canada, and the United States.

“Project Concho is a significant step forward in scaling up DAC,” said Martijn Verwoerd, Managing Director of Return Carbon. “This opportunity aligns perfectly with Return Carbon and Verified Carbon’s joint mission to mitigate climate change through the scalable commercialization of new technologies in impactful infrastructure projects. We’re thrilled to make West Texas a home for this groundbreaking DAC hub and create new opportunities for the region.”

Collaboration Sets Stage For Future Renewable Power-DAC Projects

Project Concho is the result of an unprecedented collaboration between a wind energy provider and a DAC developer: the DAC hub guarantees a reliable offtake of wind energy in return for access to low-cost power, one of the challenges associated with large-scale DAC projects. Project Concho’s energy optimization will be enabled through its flexible use of power, leveraging the agreement of Greenalia and Concho partners to develop a unique Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structure that allows for price stability and full energy deliverability. This symbiotic arrangement sets the stage for future joint renewable power-DAC projects that enable greater scale, lower risk, and reduced costs.

“We are excited about the partnership with Project Concho and there is a vision and a framework for collaboration that our companies share,” said Alexandre Alonso, SVP of Business Development at Greenalia. “The flexibility offered by the DAC hub to optimize around energy price peaks is a game changer for renewable energy projects. It not only strengthens the business case for our wind farm under development in Texas but also contributes to adding innovative business models and alternatives for a greener energy landscape in the U.S.”

State-of-the-art DAC Technology

Project Concho will feature a connected array of Skytree Stratus DAC units. Skytree’s patented DAC technology continuously optimizes energy use and drives down energy consumption while ensuring optimal CO2 capture efficiency. In addition, its modular design and 24/7 uptime guarantee made it a logical choice for a large-scale project like Project Concho in which units will be added over time.

“Project Concho is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that opens the door to even more ambitious and transformative carbon removal projects,” said Elena Nikonova, VP North America at Skytree. “Deploying DAC at scale is necessary to drive down costs across the value chain and achieve greater impact and we are thrilled to provide the technology needed to bring Project Concho to life.”

Revenue and Environmental Benefits to Concho Valley

Through carbon sequestration, local landowners can take advantage of passive revenue streams while promoting sustainable land use. “Project Concho brings significant benefits to the Concho Valley, providing new economic opportunities for landowners beyond traditional activities,” said Coleman White, co-founder of Verified Carbon and Concho Valley landowner. “Projects like these allow us to maintain traditional land uses while benefiting from a new income source and supporting projects that sustain both our environment and local economy”.

About Return Carbon

Return Carbon is a project development and investment company focused on sustainable infrastructure and energy transition projects, with a focus on the development of Direct Air Capture. Return Carbon is part of the Return group, a leading investor in solar and energy storage, with an extensive portfolio in Europe. Return has gained prominence in Europe’s energy transition, having raised EUR 100 million to support its portfolio companies, including leading energy storage companies such as SemperPower, Lion Storage, and J&P Batterie Projekte.

About Verified Carbon

Verified Carbon is a Texas-based carbon capture company, originating from the University of Texas at Austin. The company specializes in deploying DAC technology to sequester carbon and mitigate climate change while delivering financial benefits to local stakeholders. Verified Carbon, whose founding members have contributed to over 35 different Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects, brings vital knowledge of the subsurface and strong landowner partnerships to the project, creating new revenue opportunities for landowners while advancing sustainable carbon sequestration in the region.

About Greenalia

Greenalia is an Independent Power Producer exclusively for renewable energy. The company harnesses wind, sun, and forestry biomass from certified plantations’ remains to generate and store energy sustainably. Greenalia promotes employment and innovation in the regions where it operates, driving growth across Europe and the U.S.

About Skytree

Born out of the European Space Agency in 2014 and headquartered in Amsterdam, Skytree harnesses CO2 from ambient air through the power of direct air capture technology (DAC). Its patented technology can be set up quickly at any location and scaled to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. With Skytree’s unique Uptime Assurance Guarantee, all DAC systems are monitored to ensure uninterrupted operations and measured to provide valuable insights. Skytree’s Stratus DAC units are field-upgradable to newer generations as capture materials evolve, reducing energy consumption costs while improving unit capacity over time. For more information, visit skytree.eu.

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SOURCE Return Carbon

TEMPE, Ariz., Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — For many microbusiness owners, closing one venture is not the end—it’s the beginning of something new.

According to GoDaddy’s 2024 Annual Venture Forward report, 75% of microbusiness owners who close a business don’t give up, even if their efforts didn’t yield a profit. Instead, they persist, launching new ventures. Of these, 39% become the main income for their households.

Resilience Powers Microbusinesses

Microbusiness owners are placing greater confidence in themselves. They are less swayed by uncertainty in the economy. Only 39% say they are confident in the national economy. But 74% are optimistic about their business prospects in the next six months. Even among those pessimistic about the economy, one in four plans to hire within a year. Entrepreneurs are making decisions based on business needs rather than on the economy.

Microbusinesses, Macro Impact

Microbusinesses are a cornerstone of the U.S. economy. Many start small, with 34% beginning as side hustles, and over 70% leveraging an online presence to fuel growth.

GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research highlights that, at the county level, each entrepreneur creates an average of seven jobs – up from just two in 2020. Also, 58% of say their work helps their local community.

Progress in Equity and Representation

The face of microbusiness ownership is evolving. Women now own 51% of microbusinesses, up from 41% in 2019. Today, nearly a third of women owners serve as household breadwinners. Black-owned businesses are also on the rise, with women driving much of the growth. Older entrepreneurs are joining the wave as well, with 19% of owners now aged 55 and older. This diversity of age, gender, and race reflects a vibrant and evolving entrepreneurial landscape.

“Setbacks often lead to fresh starts and new opportunities,” said Alexandra Rosen, Global Head of GoDaddy Venture Forward. “These entrepreneurs are showing how perseverance can translate into profit and impact, not just for their households but for their communities.

“Microbusinesses remain essential to local economies and are the heartbeat of neighbourhoods,” Rosen added. “At GoDaddy, we’re proud to share these data-driven insights and to provide the tools and support that help these businesses succeed. Microbusinesses might be small, but they’re mighty.”

About GoDaddy Venture Forward

GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research initiative analyzes more than 20 million online businesses with a digital presence (measured by a unique domain and an active website). Most of these businesses employ fewer than ten people, categorizing each as a microbusiness. Since 2018, Venture Forward has surveyed more than 50,000 entrepreneurs with a digital presence, making it the source for microbusiness data and insights. To find out more about GoDaddy’s Venture Forward research, visit www.godaddy.com/ventureforward.

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a website and logo, sell their products and services, and accept payments. GoDaddy Airo™, the company’s AI-powered experience, makes growing a small business faster and easier by helping them to get their idea online in minutes, drive traffic and boost sales. GoDaddy’s expert guides are available 24/7 to provide assistance. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.

*66% of microbusiness owners agree with the statement “life is better as an entrepreneur.”

Source: GoDaddy Inc.

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SOURCE GoDaddy Inc.

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Breakthrough Genomics, a leader in the clinical analysis of genomic data and early cancer diagnostics, announced today its collaboration with the PRECEDE Consortium to advance the clinical evaluation and adoption of its BT-Reveal™ Early Pancreatic Cancer Test.

This groundbreaking blood test can detect the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer in circulating cell-free DNA, often before symptoms appear. Utilizing patented DNA methylation technology, the test received the FDA’s coveted Breakthrough Device Designation and is currently available for high-risk patients through Breakthrough Genomics which operates a CAP and CLIA-certified clinical lab in Southern California. 

Early detection is critical for pancreatic cancer as most cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited. This has made pancreatic cancer one of the most deadly types of cancers with a mortality rate that has remained largely unchanged despite gains in other cancer types.

The partnership with PRECEDE offers Breakthrough Genomics access to a network of the world’s foremost pancreatic cancer researchers, clinicians, and high-risk centers. Led by world-renown surgeon and scientist, Dr. Diane Simeone, the PRECEDE Consortium is conducting the largest longitudinal study of its kind, with over 7,000 patients enrolled across 54 leading institutions.

The technology behind the BT-Reveal™ Early Pancreatic Cancer Test originated from UC San Diego’s bioengineering department and has been further refined and validated by Singlera Genomics. 

At the recent PRECEDE Annual Meeting, Breakthrough Genomics and Singlera presented a scientific talk that highlighted the test’s potential to revolutionize current practices by minimizing unnecessary procedures and enabling the accurate detection of pancreatic cancer in its earliest stages.

The companies also joined consortium members in dedicating themselves to a shared mission: increasing the 5-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer by nearly 400% within the next decade.

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and is a time to recognize the incredible efforts of practitioners, scientists, and patient support groups working tirelessly to combat this devastating disease. Breakthrough Genomics is proud to contribute to this mission.

For more information, visit https://btreveal.com

For all inquiries, contact Scott Braman at Scott@BTGenomics.com 

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SOURCE Breakthrough Genomics