As the world intensifies its call for urgent climate action, innovative technologies aimed at removing greenhouse gases from our atmosphere are emerging. Leading the charge in Africa is Octavia Carbon, a pioneering Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup based in Kenya. Founded just two years ago, Octavia has developed DAC machines designed to extract carbon dioxide (CO2), the primary culprit of global warming, from the air and store it underground.
Having commenced carbon capture in February after an intensive development phase, Octavia is set to expand its operations following a successful $3.9 million seed funding round. The company plans to enhance its existing two machines, which currently capture 50 tonnes of carbon annually, as it strives to scale its impact in Kenya. This funding round was co-led by Lateral Frontiers and E4E Africa, with additional support from Catalyst Fund, Launch Africa, Fondation Botnar, and Renew Capital.
Co-founder and CEO Martin Freimüller shared exciting projections with TechCrunch, stating that Octavia aims to ramp up its carbon capture capacity to 1,500 tonnes per year by 2025, coinciding with the launch of a storage site managed by partner company Cella Mineral Storage.
“We’ve developed the technology, and now we’re ready to implement carbon removal at scale,” said Freimüller, who co-founded the startup alongside mechanical engineer Duncan Kariuki. Octavia’s approach involves capturing carbon from the air, liquefying it, and collaborating with Cella to inject it underground for long-term storage. The first injection of captured carbon is anticipated before the end of the year, marking one of the first projects worldwide to transform captured carbon into rock through natural processes.
Kenya’s Unique Geology Gives It an Edge
Freimüller explained that Kenya’s distinctive geological features played a significant role in the startup’s decision to operate there. The East African Rift Valley boasts porous volcanic rocks ideal for carbon storage, with an astonishing capacity that could theoretically accommodate all of humanity’s cumulative CO2 emissions to date—around 8,600 cubic kilometers of pore space.
Moreover, capturing carbon is energy-intensive, and Octavia benefits from Kenya’s abundant renewable energy resources, particularly geothermal power. This reliance on clean energy gives Octavia a significant competitive advantage over DAC operations in developed countries that may still depend on fossil fuels and purchase renewable energy credits, which can be counterproductive.
Globally, there are currently 27 DAC facilities operating, with a total capture capacity of just 0.01 Mt CO2 per year across Europe, North America, Japan, and the Middle East. Only a handful, including Iceland’s Climeworks Orca plant, capture over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. As the industry grows, 130 additional DAC facilities are under development, targeting a capture capacity of 65 Mt CO2 per year—an essential milestone for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Freimüller acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains optimistic. “Who would have thought that you can move an SUV around on batteries? Engineering has the power to change what’s possible,” he stated.
Having previously worked at Dalberg, a global consulting firm focusing on international development, Freimüller recognized the significant opportunities within the climate sector. Under his leadership, Octavia has expanded to a team of 60, with 40 engineers dedicated to research and development, alongside others engaged in testing materials and chemical processes.
As a finalist in the Xprize Carbon Removal competition, Octavia is poised to increase its offerings of DAC and carbon storage credits to boost revenue. Notably, Danish carbon removal marketplace Klimate is one of its largest clients, with a total of 12 clients secured at this early stage.
“For a deep tech company, it’s rare to have this many customers at the seed stage,” Freimüller noted. “It took a lot of effort to attract these clients, but there’s clearly a strong demand for what we’re doing.”
With ambitious plans ahead, Octavia Carbon is not only tackling the climate crisis but also positioning itself as a leader in the emerging field of carbon removal technology.
