NeoCarbon, a startup developing direct air capture (DAC) solutions, has successfully produced the first batch of concrete made with captured CO2.
This advancement was enabled through a partnership with carbon products company Carbonaide and their process for mineralizing CO2 into concrete.
Using this success as proof of their tech concept, in the future, NeoCarbon will focus on scaling a DAC module to a capture capacity of 62.5 t/y of CO2. Currently, the company has two autonomous DAC modules, the newer of which has the nominal capture capacity of 5 t/y of CO2.
Founded in 2022 by a couple of business-savvy engineers, NeoCarbon is tackling the excess CO2 emissions problem through direct air capture systems.
The company specializes in the capture of carbon dioxide from the waste heat of cooling towers, which then gets channeled into a curing chamber where it bonds with concrete via a process called carbon curing.
By relying on existing industrial heat networks, the company states that it can bypass the energy and retrofitting needs typically associated with these kinds of carbon solutions.
According to NeoCarbon, approximately 140 kg (≈308 lb) of CO2 is needed for the production of each m³ of concrete.
For the production of its first batch of industry-grade low-carbon concrete, the company used a process that involved the mixing of biogenic waste with 1 kg (≈2.2 lb) of captured carbon, leveraging NeoCarbon’s DAC pilot program NeoDuo.
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Commenting on this first shipment of captured CO2, NeoCarbon CEO René Haas stated that it represents a significant step in the company’s mission to decarbonize the cement and concrete industry.
Through its partnership with Carbonaide, in 2025 NeoCarbon also intends to offer high-quality carbon removal credits.
Tapio Vehmas, CEO of Carbonaide, commented, “By leveraging NeoCarbon’s Direct Air Capture technology, we aim to scale a modular and flexible CO2 supply, making the CO2 value chain more efficient.”
Read more: Soletair Power And Carbonaide Successfully Produce Concrete With Captured CO2
