Amsterdam-based climate tech start-up Brineworks has secured €6.8 million in funding to accelerate commercialisation of its breakthrough Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, alongside a €1.8 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator. The round was led by SeaX Ventures, with participation from Pale Blue Dot, First Momentum, AiiM Partners, Energie360°, and Katapult.

At the core of Brineworks’ system is a patented electrolyser that captures CO₂ from the air while co-producing hydrogen, delivering the two critical feedstocks for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and e-methanol. Designed for flexible, intermittent operation, the electrolyser can run directly on renewable energy, addressing one of the toughest challenges in scaling DAC.

Brineworks has already demonstrated a pathway to sub-€100 per tonne CO₂ capture, a long-standing industry target. Founded in late 2023, the company has advanced rapidly from concept to prototype and will now use the new funding to scale to pilot level, aiming for commercial readiness by 2026.

The technology could help decarbonise aviation and shipping, which together account for over 5% of global emissions, and enable decentralised e-fuel production by combining local renewable resources with DAC. Brineworks’ model offers a route to both emissions reduction and energy independence as demand for carbon-neutral fuels grows worldwide.