Carbon8 secures Innovate UK grant to increase CO2 removal in heavy industries

Carbon8’s is set to advance its carbon capture and use technology with support from Innovate UK and in partnership with ASTUTE Centr of Excellence, Swansea University.

The UK cleantech company that specialises in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) for heavy industry and the energy-from-waste (EfW) sector, has received a UK Government grant, via Innovate UK’s Analysis for Innovators scheme, to accelerate its use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning. 

In collaboration with Swansea University’s ASTUTE (Advanced Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies) Centre of Excellence, Carbon8 aims to boost the CO₂ uptake of its CCUS technology, by a greater use of AI.

Dr Paula Carey, a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Carbon8, said: “Thanks to the grant support of Innovate UK, we can collaborate with Swansea University’s ASTUTE in advanced statistical analysis and machine learning and undertake this project.   

"With this collaboration and the support of Innovate UK, we expect to see an even greater improvement in the efficiency and competitiveness of our CCUS process, and so strengthening our business case to clients.”

Dr Fawzi Belblidia, technical director added Swansea University’s ASTUTE Centre of Excellence R&D team was "excited" to contribute its advanced statistical analysis and machine learning expertise to the Carbon8 collaborative project, thanks to Innovate UK's grant support. 

"This collaboration marks a significant step in refining Carbon8’s CCUS process, with the development of innovative data analysis tools," he said.

"The integration of ASTUTE’s skills is expected to drive efficiency improvements, enhancing Carbon8’s competitiveness in the carbon capture technology sector. 

"This collaboration not only strengthens Carbon8’s business case but also positions ASTUTE as a key player in advancing such sustainable solutions.”

Carbon8’s technology combines industrial residues with captured CO₂ emissions from flue gas, to produce low carbon materials that can be used in the construction industry. 

By using its Accelerated Carbonation Technology (ACT), hard-to-abate heavy industries can decarbonise their operations while transitioning to a more circular operation. 

Carbon8’s solution for these industries is housed and deployed in the CO₂ntainer, a compact Plug ‘n Play process, which is scalable and modular. 

The CO₂ntainer can be deployed directly to an industrial site, capturing carbon from the source and permanently storing it in the output materials from the process. 

It allows for easy implementation, avoiding disruptions in production and is a solution that can help hard-to-abate industries.  

The seven-month project includes a grant contribution of £102,000 from Innovate UK.