Inevitable

Point Source Carbon Capture with Ardent’s Membrane Solutions

Oct 17, 2024

Erica Nemser, CEO of Ardent, leads a pioneering company focused on industrial decarbonization through innovative membrane technology for carbon capture. She shares insights on the transition from their previous identity as Compact Membrane Systems and discusses the unique advantages of facilitated transport membranes over traditional methods. Erica emphasizes the importance of partnerships for scaling their solutions and tackles the challenges of integrating carbon capture in heavy industries, exploring the balance between fossil fuel use and sustainable practices.

47:30

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Erica Nemser

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Quick takeaways

Ardent has transformed from a traditional membrane systems company to a specialized provider of point source carbon capture technology, focusing on industrial emissions.

The podcast emphasizes the importance of partnerships and a collaborative approach in the evolving carbon capture market to enhance scalability and efficiency.

Deep dives

Transformation to Ardent and Focus on Decarbonization

The company, formerly known as Compact Membrane Systems, has undergone a significant transformation to become Ardent, which emphasizes its dedication to decarbonization and climate technology. This shift involved repositioning the company’s focus solely on developing membranes that facilitate point source carbon capture, which is distinct from direct air capture. The decision to rebrand and concentrate on carbon capture arose from recognizing the market demand for scalable solutions that can address concentrated greenhouse gas emissions from industrial sources. This reorientation has allowed Ardent to leverage its 30 years of expertise in membrane technology while aligning with the urgent need for industrial decarbonization solutions.

Intro

2min

Rebranding for a Sustainable Future

11min

Innovative Carbon Capture Solutions

8min

Carbon Capture Technologies and Historical Emissions Control

2min

Navigating Carbon Capture Challenges

17min

Navigating New Markets: Leadership and Innovation

6min

Navigating Growth in Carbon Capture and Talent Acquisition

2min

Erica Nemser is CEO at Ardent, a Series A stage startup that's aiming to help drive industrial decarbonization by developing and selling membranes to perform point source carbon capture.

Point source capture differs from direct air capture in that it's focused on concentrated greenhouse gas emissions coming right out of the flue of an industrial system, as opposed to direct air capture (DAC), which attempts to capture emissions from ambient air. Ardent, formerly Compact Membrane Systems, has been operating for 30 years, but its pivot to carbon capture and tech startup status is recent.

In this episode, we discuss how Ardent’s technology stands out in the point source capture field, the industry's varied approaches to decarbonization, and how Erica’s leadership has guided the company's transformation.

In this episode, we cover:

[2:11] Rebranding from Compact Membrane Systems to Ardent
[3:53] Ardent's membrane-based carbon capture solution and how it differs from other technologies
[6:29] Erica's background and how it has informed her leadership at Ardent
[7:37] Ardent's go-to-market strategy of partnering for scale
[12:15] The company's hypothesis around facilitated transport membranes
[13:05] An overview of Ardent's approach to industrial carbon capture
[18:01]: Ardent’s low-energy membrane systems for carbon capture
[19:50]: Overview of Ardent’s membrane system setup
[23:03]: Addressing concerns about prolonging fossil fuel use with carbon capture
[25:11]: Erica’s perspective on diverse solutions for industrial heat
[32:06]: “Carbon Capture as a Service” explained
[37:20]: Agricultural sector's interest in carbon capture
[45:51]: Ardent’s global presence and talent search

Episode recorded on Aug 1, 2024 (Published on Oct 17, 2024)

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

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Inevitable

Point Source Carbon Capture with Ardent’s Membrane Solutions

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Transformation to Ardent and Focus on Decarbonization

Innovative Membrane Technology for Carbon Capture

Market Dynamics and Collaboration in Carbon Capture

Future of Energy and Diverse Solutions

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts