Swiss startup Sixteen44 develops plasma reactor to cut methane emissions in cattle barns

A Swiss climate technology company called Sixteen44 has developed a plasma reactor that can convert 60 to 70 percent of the methane in barn air into water vapor and carbon dioxide. The technology targets low-concentration methane that existing methods like bacteria or thermal oxidation cannot handle effectively. The company plans to partner with livestock farmers using a profit-sharing model based on carbon credits, with a goal to capture 1 million tonnes of methane by 2035 across Switzerland and other countries. This approach could open a new category in agricultural methane abatement, especially for ventilation air from dairy and beef barns. The key question is whether the carbon credit model will deliver enough revenue to make the reactor affordable for farmers at scale. If the numbers hold, this could become a practical tool for reducing livestock sector emissions without changing feed or herd management.