Carbyon will achieve what many climate-tech companies have so far failed to do. Last week, the company secured an investment round of €15.3 million. So it is another step closer to capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere on a large scale. We spoke to CEO of the company Hans de Neve.
Carbyon’s Direct Air Capture technology
Carbyon has developed an innovative and patented technology that removes CO₂ directly from the air. With their “fast swing” technology, they can remove large amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere quickly, resulting in lower costs for machinery and energy consumption. These aspects are essential for scaling up the technology.
Congratulations on €15.3 million!
“Thank you! We are delighted. It’s never easy to get an investment round. Especially not when it comes to large sums, and in the current investment climate.”
What’s on the horizon in the near future?
“Among other things, we are going to build the first demonstration machines. With this, we want to demonstrate that the machines can function well outdoors. It is the final step for demonstrating our technology. So far, we have mainly done tests in the lab.”
What questions remain to be answered with the demonstration machines?
“Think, for example, of questions regarding the service life of the material. We also want to test whether the machines are suitable in various climate conditions. Do they do their work well in Iceland as well as in desert areas? For example, we are going to see how humidity affects our machines.”
How are Carbyon’s machines deployed?
Carbyon is focusing primarily on removing CO₂ from the atmosphere with their advanced technology. This is an important step in reducing CO₂ concentrations. However, the company focuses not only on removing CO₂ already in the air, but also on preventing additional CO₂ emissions by developing alternatives. One example is using CO₂ from the air to make sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). This fuel is produced by combining hydrogen and CO₂ from the atmosphere, creating a circular system where the fuel is produced in a sustainable way.
When will the first machines come to market?
“The commercial devices will come on the market in 2028. In recent years, we held many discussions with companies in the manufacturing industry. This allows us to make a realistic estimate. Siemens, for example, our main investor and also a major industrial player, is closely involved in the project. Together with them, we are looking at the possibilities for the device. In addition, the support from Invest-NL and the Brabant Development Company (BOM) is helping us tremendously, making me even more confident that we will meet our 2028 goal.”
Carbyon has been in existence since 2019. What are you most proud of so far?
“That despite setbacks we never gave up. Just after its founding, in 2020, things were pretty bad. The material we had developed at TNO to filter CO₂ did not function as well as expected. That was a big disappointment, especially since further development was hampered by the corona pandemic. We were really at a loss for words. But look where we are now.”
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