Carbeau, a spin-off of Avantium, uses groundbreaking technology to convert CO₂ into high-value chemicals. With this, the company aims to make a significant contribution to making industrial processes more sustainable, so that CO₂ is no longer a waste problem but can instead be used as a new raw material. With total funding of €23.7 million and the support of international and regional partners, the company plans to further scale up the technology, with plans for a pilot plant in Delfzijl.
Earlier this week, bioplastic manufacturer Avantium announced that Carbeau, formerly known as Volta Technologies, will continue as an independent company. Carbeau will receive financial and strategic support from a consortium of investors consisting of GKT, Invest-NL, Al Baleed Petrochemical, the NOM, and Avantium itself. “Apart from the technology’s great potential, with Carbeau we are bringing an innovative CCU (Carbon Capture & Utilization) technology to the Northern Netherlands that aligns well with the strong chemical industry base in Delfzijl.
The planned pilot plant could become a key link in the further development of the regional ecosystem for green chemistry and CO₂ utilization. With our investment of €1.5 million, we are not only contributing financially, but we are also helping to attract other capital and forge connections with regional partners who are of great value for the upscaling of Carbeau,” said Jisk de Vries, investment manager at NOM.
From an emissions problem to a raw material
Carbeau’s technology platform focuses on the electrochemical conversion of CO₂, using electrons (preferably from renewable electricity) to convert CO₂ into valuable chemical building blocks. “Those building blocks can then be used to make various sustainable products,” says De Vries. “This ensures that CO₂ is no longer a waste product, but a raw material, and in doing so, Carbeau offers a solution to a global problem.”
Initially, Carbeau will focus on producing glycolic acid and PLGA (polylactic acid-co-glycolic acid). Glycolic acid is used in skin care products, among other things, and PLGA can be used to make sustainable, biodegradable plastics. “Both products are not only sustainable and high-quality, but can also compete on price with fossil-based materials,” De Vries continues. “So that really allows you to create a market for these kinds of products.”
International investor consortium
In addition to Invest-NL, Avantium, and the NOM, the Austrian company GKT and Al Baleed Petrochemical from Oman are also part of the consortium. “GKT specializes in industrial process technology and engineering solutions, and Al Baleed Petrochemical has extensive expertise in petrochemical markets and international business development,” says De Vries. “So, with this very strong international consortium, Carbeau is also bringing all the specialized knowledge in-house needed to scale up effectively and connect with the international market.”
Strong roots in the region
“At NOM, we help facilitate strong connections with regional partners,” de Vries continues. “Think, for example, of collaborations with research institutions or the new CCU Field Lab run by Groningen Seaports and the Chemport Innovation Center. Carbeau would then be one of the first major players to further develop its technology there. In addition, there are plans to build a pilot plant in Delfzijl and use CO₂ from local sources as a feedstock.”
“The fact that Al Baleed Petrochemical is interested in building a plant in Oman following a successful pilot underscores Carbeau’s commercial potential,” says De Vries. “For the Northern Netherlands, it’s also valuable that this project attracts international capital and strategic partners to the region. It shows that our ecosystem is attractive to parties looking to invest in sustainable chemistry worldwide.”
The photo shows all parties gathered for the Investment Signing Ceremony.