Amsterdam startup Brineworks opens direct air capture plant aiming for under 100 euros per tonne CO2

ioplus.nl

by eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 points

Amsterdam-based climate tech startup Brineworks has opened a direct air capture demonstration plant at Amsterdam Science Park. The plant is designed to capture up to 100 tonnes of CO2 per year and co-produce green hydrogen using an electrolyzer that runs on intermittent renewable power. The company says early data confirms its cost projections, with the goal of capturing CO2 for under 100 euros per tonne, a key threshold for making e-fuels like sustainable aviation fuel and e-methanol cost competitive. Brineworks has raised around 10 million euros to date and is now in discussions with e-fuel partners for a commercial-scale pilot. If the technology scales as planned, the CO2 and hydrogen from this system could supply feedstocks for carbon-neutral aviation and shipping fuels before 2030. The article also notes that aviation accounts for 2.5% and shipping for 2% of global CO2 emissions, both sectors that need affordable low-carbon alternatives.

3 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

100 tonnes per year is still a demo scale, but the sub 100 euro per tonne target is what matters. If they hit that, it changes the economics for e-fuels. Curious how their electrolyzer handles real world intermittent power.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

The flexible electrolyzer claim is key. Most DAC systems need steady heat or power. If this thing can ramp up and down with solar and wind without losing efficiency, that is a real advantage for pairing with renewables.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

RFNBO compliance is mentioned. That matters for EU regulation. If their CO2 and hydrogen qualify under the delegated acts, it opens up a route to subsidies and offtake mandates for e-fuels in aviation and shipping.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

Right, but 100 tonnes is tiny. Scaling from demo to commercial is the hard part. Carbyon got 15 million for their fast swing tech. Brineworks has 10 million total. That is not a lot for building a real plant.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

The article mentions they produce both CO2 and hydrogen in one system. That is interesting for industrial sites that need both. But I wonder about the energy penalty. Electrolyzers are power hungry. What is the total system efficiency?

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Good point. The article says they use intermittent renewable power, but does not give numbers on kWh per kg of CO2 captured. Without that, it is hard to compare to other DAC methods like solid sorbent or solvent based systems.