Uni of Leeds, Manchester & Sheffield investment co. invests in C-Capture

C-Capture, a Leeds company that develops chemical processes for carbon dioxide removal, is in the process of securing £10 million in its latest funding round.

Northern Gritstone, a new investment company founded by the Universities of Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield is set to join existing investors, including bp Ventures, Drax and Kiko Ventures, in this potential £10 million funding round, with the possibility of additional investors joining later.

C-Caputre was set up in 2009 as a spin-out from the School of Chemistry at the University of Leeds. Since then, the company has garnered support from private investors and the government to advance its innovative carbon capture technology. This technology effectively prevents CO2 emissions from industrial processes from being released into the atmosphere. C-Capture’s proprietary solvent technology is considered a sustainable solution for decarbonization, boasting energy efficiency savings of up to 40% compared to existing methods. It is known for its resilience and adaptability, making it suitable for deployment even in challenging-to-decarbonize industries.

C-Capture employs novel solvents to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions directly at their source, offering a safer, more efficient and cost-effective alternative to conventional chemical approaches. The company’s goal is to make carbon dioxide removal economically viable on a larger scale, particularly in industries such as coal, gas, biomass power generation, and the production of cement, steel and aluminium. C-Capture has already completed approximately 20 feasibility studies in collaboration with end customers spanning various sectors and applications.

Tom White, CEO, commented: “There has never been a more critical time to take action – decisive action – against climate change than right now. This investment brings us one step closer to realising our mission of mitigating climate change by allowing our team to focus on scaling our technology.”

The investment will bolster C-Capture’s strategy for commercialising its technology, including further testing of its one-tonne-per-day, fully integrated carbon removal pilot plant currently operational at the Drax power station in Yorkshire.

The funds will also facilitate the scaling up of C-Capture’s technology by establishing a commercial demonstration plant capable of capturing approximately 100-200 tonnes of carbon dioxide per day. This investment aligns with the government’s recent announcement of £20 billion in funding to support four carbon capture clusters, a move expected to create thousands of jobs across the UK.