Amsterdam-based cleantech startup Brineworks has raised €6.8 million (USD $7.95 million) to accelerate development of its renewable-powered Direct Air Capture (DAC) system and hydrogen co-production platform. The company’s goal is to make carbon removal affordable at scale while unlocking new pathways for clean synthetic fuel production. With backing from leading climate-tech investors and the European Innovation Council, Brineworks now aims to demonstrate its technology at pilot scale ahead of commercial rollout by 2026.

Scope and Strategic Framework

Founded in 2023 by CEO Gudfinnur Sveinsson and CTO Dr. Joseph Perryman, Brineworks is developing a patented electrolyzer system that uses saltwater and intermittent renewable energy to capture carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. Unlike many DAC systems, which rely on costly sorbents, continuous thermal inputs, and energy-intensive processes, Brineworks’ technology is designed to run flexibly, powering up when renewable energy is abundant and pausing when it is not.

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This modular and location-agnostic design could significantly lower capital costs, widen deployment options, and support integration with renewable grids. Crucially, the system also produces hydrogen as a co-product, creating a foundation for cost-competitive e-fuels that could rival fossil-based alternatives in hard-to-abate sectors such as aviation and shipping.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has highlighted DAC as a critical component of global net-zero strategies, but costs remain a barrier, with current systems priced between $200 and $600 per ton of CO₂ captured. Brineworks claims its technology has a clear pathway to achieve sub-$100 per ton capture costs a long-sought benchmark that could unlock large-scale carbon removal markets and make synthetic fuels commercially viable. In parallel, the system’s hydrogen output could support clean industrial processes and transport fuels, linking carbon capture with broader decarbonisation strategies. If scaled successfully, Brineworks’ approach could help overcome two key bottlenecks of the energy transition: cost-effective carbon removal and flexible renewable energy utilization.

Corporate Governance and Transparency

The €6.8 million financing round combines €5 million in seed capital led by SeaX Ventures, with participation from Pale Blue Dot, First Momentum, AiiM Partners, and Energie360°, alongside a €1.8 million grant from the European Innovation Council Accelerator. This mix of venture backing and public funding signals both investor confidence and EU-level recognition of Brineworks as a potential breakthrough innovator. SeaX Ventures’ founder, Dr. Kid Parchariyanon, underscored the strategic significance of the deal, noting that supporting Brineworks aligns with the fund’s mission to help cut one percent of the world’s carbon footprint. For Brineworks, the funding not only provides balance sheet strength but also connects the company to global networks of climate investors and partners.

Challenges to Scaling

Despite the promise, significant hurdles remain. Scaling from laboratory proof-of-concept to commercial deployment will require rigorous technical validation, robust supply chain development, and demonstration of reliability under real-world conditions. As with all DAC ventures, questions remain around long-term financing models, policy incentives, and integration into voluntary and compliance carbon markets. Competition is also intensifying, with numerous startups and established players racing to lower the cost curve of DAC technologies. Brineworks will need to prove that its flexible electrolyzer can operate consistently and at scale while maintaining the sub-$100 per ton target.

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Future Outlook

Brineworks plans to use its new funding to build and test a pilot-scale system, with commercial readiness targeted for 2026. If successful, the company could establish a new benchmark for affordable DAC while simultaneously opening a pathway for renewable e-fuel production. CEO Gudfinnur Sveinsson emphasized that the technology is designed for the energy systems of the future, built to match the variability of renewable generation. CTO Dr. Joseph Perryman added that the company has already demonstrated proof of concept and is now ready to scale. For investors, policymakers, and industry leaders, Brineworks represents a case study in how innovation, flexible design, and strategic financing can converge to accelerate one of the most challenging but essential technologies of the net-zero transition.

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