Belgian startup ARK Capture Solutions has successfully raised €2.2 million in pre-seed funding to advance its innovative hybrid technology designed to capture CO2 from industrial emissions, specifically targeting low CO2 concentrations ranging from 4% to 15%.

The funding will be strategically allocated towards scaling technology, expanding the team, developing products, and formulating market entry strategies.

To enhance its market offering, ARK is exploring various business models, including equipment sales paired with maintenance agreements and a Capture-as-a-Service model for clients who prefer not to handle CO2 capture operations themselves.

Currently, ARK is focusing on sectors such as energy (including gas and biogas), chemicals and petrochemicals, steel production, and glass manufacturing, which are significant contributors to industrial emissions.

In 2024, Europe will implement revisions to its Emissions Trading System (ETS), which will phase out free CO2 emission allowances by 2034, potentially resulting in carbon tax increases that could be up to six times higher.

ARK's technology is designed to be cost-effective, significantly lowering capture costs compared to traditional methods, while also being autonomous, modular, HSE-friendly, and all-electric.

The company aims to upscale its operations, starting with an operational prototype capable of capturing 2 tons of CO2 per year, and plans to progress towards a pilot that captures 40 tons per year, ultimately developing a larger industrial demonstration unit targeting 400 to 1,000 tons annually.

Notable investors in ARK include Aperam Ventures and Seeder Fund, highlighting the significant potential of ARK's technology to make a meaningful impact across various industrial sectors.

The startup's solution is particularly crucial as it addresses a market segment responsible for approximately 50% of global emissions, which has often been neglected by other CO2 capture technologies that focus on higher concentrations.