They turn waste into biochar, use algae to store CO², plant mangroves in Africa and produce biofertiliser: the start-ups supported by ERGO and Munich Re as part of the “Carbon Removal ClimAccelerator” give hope that it may still be possible to slow down or even stop climate change. We interviewed the founders and presented their ideas for our online magazine //next.

The “CarbonRemoval ClimAccelerator” from EIT Climate-KIC supports start-ups that focus on technologies and methods for reducing CO² emissions. Munich Re and ERGO have been supporting the programme to promote start-ups since 2017, with a focus on “Carbon Removal” since 2021. The EIT Climate-KIC was founded in 2010 by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

Munich Re and ERGO have already supported a total of 40 start-ups as part of the cooperation. The activities range from support for the call for proposals and assistance with the selection process to ongoing support for the participating teams. This year, eight start-ups were selected for the second round of ClimAccelerator funding.

The companies in detail

Dowmann: “There is no waste, just resources in the wrong place”

Dowmann is a start-up from Ireland that produces biochar. The team works with various biomass wastes and tries to separate them into their most valuable components.

https://www.ergo.com/en/next-Magazin/Nachhaltigkeit/2024/Dowmann-ClimAccelerator-EIT-Climate-KIC-Carbon-Removal-Biochar

RubisCO2: Turning algae into natural resources

Algae bind a lot of CO². Based on this realisation, the Mexican start-up RubisCO² has developed a simple process to extract carbon from algae and permanently incorporate it into building materials.

https://www.ergo.com/en/next-Magazin/Nachhaltigkeit/2024/RubisCO2-ClimAccelerator-EIT-Climate-KIC-Carbon-Removal-Algae-Biochar-Decarbonizing-Concrete

ClimeRock: Cooling the earth with stones

ClimeRock, a start-up from France, binds CO² in pulverised rock from gravel pits and uses it to regenerate damaged soil, especially agricultural land.

https://www.ergo.com/en/next-Magazin/Nachhaltigkeit/2024/ClimeRock-ERW-Enhanced-Rock-Weathering-ClimAccelerator-EIT-Climate-KIC-Carbon-Removal

Point2Hectare: Fertiliser of the next generation

Point2Hectare's focus is on introducing biochar into agriculture. To this end, the start-up enriches biochar with nutrients that are then absorbed by plants in the field.

https://www.ergo.com/en/next-Magazin/Nachhaltigkeit/2024/Point2Hectare-Biokohle-Max-Billinger-ClimAccelerator-EIT-Climate-KIC-Carbon-Removal

Blue Carbon Tanzania: “We plant mangroves in Africa”

Blue Carbon Tanzania, a start-up from Tanzania, has set itself the goal of restoring mangroves in eastern Africa. The planted trees are offered as credits on the carbon market to generate income for further reforestation.

https://www.ergo.com/en/next-Magazin/Nachhaltigkeit/2024/Blue-Carbon-Tanzania-Mangroven-Debora-Benjamen-ClimAccelerator-EIT-Climate-KIC-Carbon-Removal

NEG8 Carbon: Scaling up quickly is the key to CO² removal

The Irish start-up NEG8 is endeavouring to scale up Direct Air Capture. NEG8's system is designed to take in large volumes of air, extract the carbon dioxide and then release the purified air.

https://www.ergo.com/en/next-Magazin/Nachhaltigkeit/2024/Neg8-direct-air-capture-DAC-carbon-EIT-Climate-KIC-ClimAccelerator

PLENO: Evaluation of carbon capture projects

PLENO's core idea is an automation platform for the assessment of carbon projects. The start-up supports carbon project developers and companies in evaluating various projects worldwide with the help of satellite and AI solutions.

https://www.ergo.com/en/next-Magazin/Nachhaltigkeit/2024/Pleno-Nura-Linggih-Nino-Lindenberg-Carbon-Removal-Nachhaltigkeit-EIT-Climate-KIC-ClimAccelerator

BomVento: Revolutionising carbon removal with the power of wind

The start-up from Israel uses wind turbines to generate clean energy. At the same time, the turbines are used to clean the atmosphere of greenhouse gases.

https://www.ergo.com/en/next-Magazin/Nachhaltigkeit/2024/BomVento-ClimAccelerator-EIT-Climate-KIC-Carbon-Removal-Wind-Turbine