Origen Power Limited, a limestone-based carbon removal solutions provider, has raised $13 million in Series A funding. The funding round was led by Barclays Climate Ventures and included participation from Shell Ventures, Exascale Fund, Elemental Impact, and Hatch. This capital injection will enable Origen to advance its direct air capture (DAC) technology, which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The funding will primarily support the global scaling of Origen’s DAC technology, with additional investment directed toward expanding research activities at the company’s technology and research centre in Bristol. Origen’s innovative approach to DAC leverages limestone’s natural chemical properties to capture and store carbon dioxide safely.
The process involves separating carbon dioxide from limestone and securely storing it underground. The by-product, lime, acts as a natural carbon sponge, passively absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere over time. This scalable method positions Origen as a key player in addressing the climate crisis.
“Limestone can act as a natural sponge for carbon dioxide, efficiently enabled by the technology we have developed at Origen,” said Ben Riddle-Turner, CEO of Origen. “This funding allows us to scale our operations, streamline processes, and deliver the carbon reductions urgently needed to combat global warming.”
As global temperatures continue to rise, technologies like DAC are increasingly critical for reducing emissions, particularly in hard-to-decarbonise sectors such as manufacturing, shipping, and construction. Origen’s technology offers a scalable solution to reduce carbon emissions in these industries.
“Origen has the process, technology, and team required to deploy efficient direct air capture at scale,” said Steven Poulter, Head of Barclays Climate Ventures. “The focus now is on demonstrating the technology’s capabilities through projects like Origen’s partnership with EERC and preparing for commercial development.”
“Advancing carbon removal technologies is a critical part of the energy transition,” said Quennie Co, Managing Partner of Shell Ventures. “Origen’s technology relies on established raw material supply chains and has the potential to generate cost-effective carbon removal credits at scale.”
The broader impact of Origen’s work extends beyond carbon removal. “These efforts aren’t just about capturing carbon – they’re creating jobs and fostering economic growth in the communities where they operate,” said Danya Hakeem, VP of Portfolio at Elemental Impact.
