Obrist Group: Modern Forest is 30 times better for the climate than the forest
If two percent of deserts were covered with synthetic forests, the CO2 content of the atmosphere could be reduced to 1950 levels in 100 years.
"Our Modern Forest is up to 30 times more effective at reducing the CO2 content in the air than a normal forest," says inventor and entrepreneur Frank Obrist. The industrial group of the same name that he founded has developed a sophisticated process to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. At the same time, it produces the sustainable energy source methanol and obtains elemental carbon that can be stored or further processed.
Thorsten Rixmann, Chief Marketing Officer of the Obrist Group, explains the concept: "Like a natural forest, the Modern Forest removes CO2 from the atmosphere and produces oxygen. However, unlike photosynthesis in trees, the synthetic forest does not generate sugar as food for the plants, but liquid methanol - we are talking about aFuel (atmospheric fuel) - which can be used as a universal fuel in industry, for heat generation and in transportation." CO2 is extracted using a direct air capture (DAC) process developed and patented by the Obrist Group. According to the company, up to one kilogram of methanol can be produced from 1.38 kilograms of CO2 extracted from the air.
The highlight: The synthetic forest works best in precisely those regions of the world where there is no chance of reforestation with trees - on wasteland and in deserts. In order for the production of methanol and carbon to function sustainably, an abundance of solar energy is required. While a real forest grows best in temperate climate zones, the modern forest can only thrive in the Earth's sun belt. What both "forest forms" have in common is that they remove large quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and thus counteract global warming and climate change, emphasizes the Obrist Group.
Gigaplant: CO2 vacuum cleaner that produces methanol and carbon
The German-Austrian industrial group has developed the concept of so-called gigaplants, which simultaneously produce methanol, generate elemental carbon and act as a "CO2 vacuum cleaner". A single Gigaplant is expected to produce almost four million tons of methanol per year, generate almost 230,000 tons of carbon and remove over 6.2 million tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. The required surface area is around 280 square kilometers.
For comparison: A natural forest of the same size removes less than half a million tons of CO2 from the air every year. Frank Obrist clarifies: "Of course, the Modern Forest is not intended to replace forests, but to make otherwise unusable wasteland and desert regions doubly usable: for the global energy supply at unbeatably low costs and for the climate with a significantly better efficiency than any planting."
A key component of the Modern Forest is a special direct air capture (DAC) process developed by the industrial group and protected by several patents. Dr. Johannes Prock, Chief Technology Officer of the Obrist Group, explains the industrial process with vivid comparisons: "We use caustic soda, which is also used in diluted form in pretzel baking, because it binds CO2 particularly easily. This removes the carbon dioxide from the air. This produces sodium carbonate, which is also found in washing powder. The next step is the conversion to sodium hydrogen carbonate, the main component of baking powder. And just like this, decomposition begins in dry form at relatively low temperatures, which can be achieved with waste heat." According to the Obrist Group, this particular DAC process has the advantage over other methods of binding CO2 that it requires very little water and therefore also works in deserts, where the humidity is often only ten percent.
Due diligence confirms feasibility
The engineering and consulting firm ILF Consulting Engineers, the patent and law firm ETL-IP and the auditing firm BDO recently confirmed the technical and economic feasibility of the Gigaplants and the Modern Forest as part of a comprehensive due diligence. Interested investors and government agencies can request the due diligence report from the industry group.
If around two percent of the world's desert area, estimated at 36 million square kilometers, were to be covered with synthetic forests - the equivalent of 2,700 gigaplants - the world's energy needs could be met entirely with aFuel and fossil fuels could be replaced entirely with green methanol. In addition, the operation of these plants could reduce the CO2 content in the atmosphere to that of 1950. At that time, the CO2 content in the air was around 290 ppm (parts per million); 420 ppm was measured in 2023. Like many scientists, visionary Frank Obrist expects the peak to be around 450 ppm in 2050. From this peak, the CO2 content could be gradually reduced again over 100 years by "sucking" carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere with the help of modern forests.
Source: www.obrist.at
