Direct capture system could offer viable alternative to greenhouse CO₂ traditionally sourced using fossil fuels
Direct air capture has emerged as a technology with the potential to reduce greenhouses’ dependence on fossil fuel-derived sources of carbon dioxide.
In the Netherlands this week, a company called Skytree announced plans to deploy a commercial-scale system that takes carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere, stores it, and supplies it to growers.
The firm has partnered with Lingezegen Energy to provide fossil-free CO₂ to a cluster of greenhouses in the country, with the first phase due to begin in 2026.
The initial installation is expected to capture 900 tonnes of atmospheric CO₂ per year, expanding to 7,200 tonnes annually in 2027.
That CO₂ will then be pumped into ten greenhouses covering 80ha, and integrated into Lingezegen Energy’s renewable energy infrastructure, which includes a floating solar park and thermal storage facilities.
CO₂ enrichment is widely used in greenhouse horticulture to increase crop yields and quality.
However, growers in the Netherlands have faced concerns over the long-term availability and cost of industrial CO₂ supplies as traditional sources linked to fossil fuel use decline.
Skytree said its Stratus system uses proprietary moving-bed technology that separates adsorption and desorption processes, allowing the system to integrate low-grade heat and reduce electricity consumption to as low as 0.9 MWh per tonne of CO₂ captured.
“Our partnership with Lingezegen Energy is a pivotal moment for the Dutch horticultural sector as it proves that circular, atmospheric CO₂ is no longer a concept for the future, but a financially viable, scalable solution available today to protect the long-term competitiveness of Dutch greenhouses,” said Skytree chief executive Rob van Straten.
“By decoupling CO₂ supply from fossil fuel combustion, we help solve the CO₂ crisis for the Dutch greenhouse sector and help growers reduce their carbon footprint.”
Lingezegen Energy CEO Berno Schouten said atmospheric carbon capture would be central to the sector’s future.
“The future of Dutch greenhouse horticulture does not lie in clinging to fossil fuels, but in embracing innovation,” he said. “Capturing CO₂ from ambient air is not a luxury, it is the key to a sustainable and thriving sector.”
The project also marks Skytree’s transition from a research and field-trial focused business to a commercial manufacturer of onsite DAC systems aimed at clients including greenhouse operators.
