The climate technology start-up company sequestra offers an innovative solution for reducing CO2 emissions on a global scale while at the same time making industrial waste commercially viable. The young company based in Vienna and Attnang-Puchheim in Austria develops customised technologies that store CO2 from exhaust gases in industrial waste materials through carbonation. This enables industrial companies to reduce their emissions by up to 50 per cent depending on the waste materials involved. sequestra’s concept has great potential for use in many sectors of industry. More than 10,000 European industrial plants, including 200 in Austria, are part of the emissions trading system (ETS), which caps CO2 emissions and requires allowances. The “Fit for 55” strategy will gradually eliminate free allowances by 2034, significantly increasing costs for companies with high CO2 emissions.
Many industrial waste materials have substantial potential for chemically binding CO2. Large quantities of industrial by-products are accumulated around the world that are not reused but are instead disposed of in landfills. Use of these materials for CO2 storage would contribute towards a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Many of these materials could also find their way into various markets in a carbonated form in the future. Concepts for storing CO2 in industrial waste have not yet been put into use. The reasons for this include the low CO2 prices, as well as the complicated process for managing the sequestration procedures, which depends on the respective characteristics of the various waste materials. sequestra’s innovative technology concept enables cost-effective and rapid identification of best-case parameters for the respective groups of waste materials and application of these parameters on an industrial scale.
Diagram of the carbonation of industrial waste materials and use of these as secondary construction materials, Fig.: sequestra FlexCo
The start-up company is targeting heavy industries that generate carbonisable waste materials and/or produce CO2 emissions that are difficult to reduce. Steel slag, construction waste, incinerator ash and many other waste materials have the potential for storing CO2 in a stable manner and over the long term, thereby reducing emissions. The estimated potential CO2 reduction is 3.7 Gt per year, which equates to around 10% of global emissions.1 The business model of the Austrian start-up is based on three pillars: sequestra charges fees for evaluations of the maximum CO2 storage potential for any material and identifies optimised parameters to achieve this. Income is generated through licence fees when a sequestration plant is implemented. The main focus, however, is on the efficient process management at industrial plants and the monitoring, reporting and validation of stored CO2 emissions in compliance with the law, in the aim of generating recurring and scalable revenues. The innovative concept received the Greenstart Award from the Climate and Energy Fund in 2024.
Fig.: sequestra FlexCo
1 Study: www.nature.com/articles/s41893-020-0486-9
www.sequestra.tech
greenstart.at/projekt/sequestra
The “greenstart” programme from the Climate and Energy Fund aims to develop the potential for innovative and green business models in Austria. The support programme helps both aspiring and established young companies in (further) developing and implementing their business ideas. Since 2014, greenstart has already supported 100 start-ups, many of which have successfully entered the market and proven their ability to hold their own in a competitive environment.
greenstart.at
