Return Carbon, Permian Energy Development Lab Collaborate On A Test Site To Advance Carbon Removal Technology

YOAKUM COUNTY, TEXAS Return Carbon, a leading project development and investment company in carbon markets, in collaboration with the Permian Energy Development Lab (PEDL), is proud to announce the Trinity Campus — a Direct Air Capture (DAC) and carbon storage testbed in the Permian Basin. This pioneering initiative will validate emerging DAC technologies under real-world field conditions, a news release said.

This milestone marks not just an innovative use of energy technology but a broader shift toward integrated energy infrastructure, rooted in one of the world’s most important energy-producing regions, the release said.

The Trinity Campus is enabled through a partnership with Roosevelt Resources, an energy producer with a long history working in the Permian.

A GROUNDBREAKING ENERGY INNOVATION HUB

The Permian Integrated Energy System (PIES) is a flagship initiative of PEDL, a nonprofit consortium launched in 2023 to accelerate innovation across energy, workforce, and economic development in the Permian Basin. Centered on a 320-acre site in Yoakum County, Texas, PIES is designed to integrate renewables, carbon removal, water reuse, and other advanced energy technologies into a unified system — a model for scalable, replicable energy infrastructure. When energy processes are integrated, they use natural resources more efficiently and produce cleaner energy.

“PEDL was conceived to bridge innovation and implementation,” Dr. Derek Adams, Managing Director of PEDL’s PIES initiative, said in the release. “By partnering with Return Carbon, we’re creating the proving ground for DAC technologies that can transform the energy landscape of the Permian Basin and beyond.”

But PEDL is more than just a technology lab. Its mission spans workforce training, economic development, and community resilience — ensuring that the benefits of energy innovation flow to the people and places that make it possible.

Return Carbon and PEDL leadership sign the Trinity term sheet. (for PEDL: Kyle Simpson, Derek Adams; for Return Carbon: Martijn Verwoerd, Jasper Kroon, Coleman White; for Roosevelt Resources: Jimmy Hawkins, Jerrel Branson, Paul Buckner) (Courtesy Photo)

ADVANCING ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE PERMIAN BASIN

The Trinity Campus is designed to capture and store approximately 10,000 tons of CO₂ per year during its initial phase, serving as a foundation for large-scale DAC deployment in the Permian Basin. The project will follow a phased development approach, allowing proven technologies from the Trinity Campus to expand seamlessly to commercial-scale facilities. The second phase of the project will be designed to capture between 100,000 and 500,000 tons of CO₂ annually, integrating lessons learned from the initial phase to advance efficient, verifiable carbon removal at scale.

“The Trinity Campus is where the next generation of carbon capture technologies will prove themselves in the field,” Martijn Verwoerd, Managing Director of Return Carbon, said in the release. “The market is moving from concepts to commercial performance, and the Permian Basin, in combination with the Texas climate, offers the perfect foundation to validate which technologies are truly ready to scale. This is how we accelerate real, measurable impact.”

INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

PEDL and Roosevelt Resources are collaborating to support operations at the Trinity Campus, including the integration of power and pilot-scale water treatment systems to enable testing and demonstration of emerging technologies. Roosevelt Resources is also advancing an innovative enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and carbon sequestration initiative, which is anticipated to serve as the initial storage pathway for captured CO₂.

By establishing standardized and independently verified testing conditions, the Trinity Campus and its partners are building confidence in DAC deployment — de-risking early technologies, enabling investor and buyer trust, and accelerating commercialization.

“The Trinity Campus embodies the innovation the Permian Basin needs to stay at the forefront of global energy,” Coleman White, who leads commercial development and project origination at Return Carbon, said. “By pairing new technology with the region’s deep energy expertise, we’re building a resilient and diversified revenue stream that ensures the Permian continues to lead for generations to come.”

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About Return Carbon

Return Carbon is a project development and investment company focused on advancing large-scale carbon removal and storage projects. Taking a technology-agnostic approach, Return Carbon partners with leading innovators to deploy, finance, and commercialize solutions that deliver verifiable climate impact and lasting economic value.

About PEDL

The Permian Energy Development Lab is a New Mexico- and Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy research, fostering innovation, and creating value for energy communities. PEDL started as an initiative backed by the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation and a National Science Foundation grant. Now, it’s a formidable coalition, bringing together leading colleges and universities, industry players, entrepreneurs, and the communities of the Permian Basin. Together they are developing new energy solutions that address one of society’s greatest challenges: access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy.