ADM announced it is entering the voluntary carbon dioxide removal market with its Columbus, Nebraska corn processing facility, which captures over 800,000 tons of biogenic CO2 annually—making it the world's largest bioethanol carbon capture operation. The facility partners with Tallgrass to transport and permanently store captured carbon underground in Wyoming, with carbon removal credits expected to be certified by year-end and available for a 15-year crediting period.
- Largest bioethanol carbon capture operation: ADM's Columbus, Nebraska facility removes over 800,000 tons of CO2 annually from ethanol fermentation.
- Investment-grade certification: Carbon removal credits are being certified by Puro.earth under its Geologically Stored Carbon methodology, with initial issuance expected by year-end.
- Permanent underground storage: Biogenic CO2 is transported via Tallgrass's pipeline system and permanently stored in Wyoming's Eastern Wyoming Sequestration Hub under Class VI permits.
- 15-year crediting period: Upon certification completion, ADM will generate carbon removal credits for 15 consecutive years, expanding access across technology, aviation, finance, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Proven expertise: ADM brings over a decade of carbon capture and geologic storage experience from operating Class VI wells at its Decatur, Illinois facility.
ADM announced plans to enter the voluntary carbon dioxide removal market with credits generated by carbon capture operations at its corn processing complex in Columbus, Nebraska. The facility offers more than 800,000 tons of annual removal capacity, making it the largest bioethanol carbon capture operation in the world.
The credits are undergoing certification and issuance by Puro.earth, a respected infrastructure provider for engineered carbon dioxide removal, under its Geologically Stored Carbon methodology. Initial issuance is expected by year end, pending audit completion.
“ADM has more than a decade of experience supporting carbon capture and geologic storage, including operating Class VI wells at our Decatur, Illinois, facility,” said Kris Lutt, ADM’s vice president of Innovation & Growth. “That experience, together with Tallgrass’ CO2 transportation and sequestration system and the capabilities of other project participants, positions us to connect agricultural production with growing carbon removal markets at scale.”
The company is already working with customers in its own value chains to help them meet their climate goals. This carbon removal offering will allow ADM to expand its efforts to new customers across multiple industries, from technology and finance to aviation and pharmaceuticals.
Upon successful completion of the certification and verification process, ADM will begin a 15-year crediting period, positioning the Columbus facility to deliver carbon removal credits for years to come.
Jan-Willem Bode, president of Puro.earth, said the audit process has run exceptionally smoothly. “Certifying carbon removal at this scale demands real rigor, and we believe ADM has approached every stage with the discipline and transparency that an investment-grade market requires,” Bode said.
ADM, in partnership with energy infrastructure provider Tallgrass, inaugurated carbon capture and storage operations in Columbus in 2025. Biogenic CO2 is captured from ethanol fermentation at ADM’s corn processing facility and then purified, compressed and transported to Tallgrass’s Eastern Wyoming Sequestration Hub for permanent underground storage via CCS wells regulated under a Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Class VI permit.
