EP #434 - Johannes Tiefenthaler: Why We Need Carbon Capture to Save the Planet
Sep 4, 2024
auto_awesome
In this engaging conversation, Johannes Tiefenthaler, co-founder and co-CEO of neustark, discusses the urgent need for carbon capture technologies to combat climate change. He sheds light on their ambitious goal of removing one million tons of CO2 by 2030 and the innovative use of demolished concrete in their processes. Johannes emphasizes the importance of strong regulations and business models in promoting sustainable solutions. He also highlights the critical role of young innovators in driving change and the community's commitment to addressing global warming.
Carbon capture technologies are essential for reducing emissions in hard-to-decarbonize industries like cement production, addressing the climate crisis effectively.
Neustark's business model integrates sustainability with profitability by providing CO2 storage solutions to concrete recycling plants, aligning financial incentives for environmental and economic benefits.
Deep dives
Carbon Capture and its Importance
The podcast emphasizes the significance of carbon capture and storage technologies in addressing the climate crisis. These technologies are not just innovative solutions but vital strategies for reducing carbon emissions, particularly in industries like cement production that are traditionally hard to decarbonize. For instance, a significant portion of CO2 emissions in cement production comes from the calcination of limestone, where alternative fuels cannot fully mitigate emissions. By implementing permanent CO2 storage solutions, companies can not only comply with future regulations but also contribute positively to climate objectives.
Successful Entrepreneurial Journey
The journey of Neustark, co-founded by Johannes Ewermo and Valentin, showcases the transition from academic research to entrepreneurial success in the clean tech sector. Initial steps involved developing a prototype that could store CO2 in concrete aggregates, which laid the groundwork for their commercial model. The duo faced challenges in scaling from laboratory successes to pilot projects, yet support from partners and timely grants enabled them to scale up their efforts. This collaboration not only facilitated technological advancement but also provided investor confidence in their venture.
Building a Sustainable Business Model
Neustark's business model is designed to ensure sustainability and profitability while addressing CO2 emissions. The company works primarily with concrete recycling plants, providing them with technology to store CO2 and creating a new revenue stream through carbon credit transactions. Customers are incentivized with fees for storing CO2, as well as the opportunity to sell concrete at a premium when it is branded as CO2-stored product. This alignment of financial incentives ensures that both Neustark and its partners benefit economically while contributing to environmental goals.
Navigating Regulatory Challenges
The evolving regulatory landscape plays a crucial role in driving demand for carbon capture technologies. With the transition from voluntary measures to compliance-based actions, companies must adapt to stricter regulations to avoid penalties. The discussion highlights how the Paris Agreement serves as an important framework, pushing economies to implement laws that necessitate emissions reductions. Therefore, businesses like Neustark not only contribute to climate goals but also position themselves strategically within a market that will increasingly favor compliant and sustainable operations.
Johannes Tiefenthaler is the co-founder and co-CEO of neustark, a cleantech startup deploying carbon dioxide removal technology. He holds a PhD from ETH and started neustark back in 2019.
neustark’s ambition is to remove one million tons of CO2 by 2030. After three years in business, neustark has 10 operational CO2 storage plants, and a dedicated team of over 50 professionals driving this mission forward. Limiting global warming to 1.5°C implies reaching net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 according to the IPCC, and next to substantially reducing emissions, this target will only be possible by globally deploying carbon removal (CDR) solutions at the scale of billions of tons of CO2.
They have received a Gold Standard certification for their CDR methodology and have raised a total of $20K in funding over 3 rounds, with Innosuisse and Technology Fund being their most recent investors.