Black & Veatch Selects Partners for IgniteX CO2 Removal Program

In response to reports displaying a spike in atmospheric CO₂ levels, Black & Veatch selected six startup companies to participate in the BV IgniteX CO₂ Removal (CDR) Accelerator—a program created to offer support for enterprises developing climate-related technologies. The CDR Accelerator is a 12-week program in which participants collaborate with thought leaders and subject matter experts from Black & Veatch who provide consultation and support for the co-development, piloting, and marketing of new technologies.

“It was inspiring to see the diverse and novel approaches that so many startups are taking to address the challenge of climate change,” said Mark Vranicar, Manager in Black & Veatch’s Sustainable Process Solutions business. “Our experienced teams at Black & Veatch are ready to get to work with the technologies in this cohort to help scale their solutions into affordable, verifiable, and widely deployable means of removing CO₂.”

Participants receive mentorship, access to the company’s large industry network, product testing opportunities, coaching for pitch development, and introductions to potential investors. IgniteX concludes with a showcase where participants present solutions and outline the associated value propositions and market opportunities. Black & Veatch is partnering with RTI International to provide technical and commercialization support for the program.

Among the 50 applicants to the BV IgniteX CDR Accelerator program, the six selections are:

• Aeon Blue: uses seawater and renewable energy to replace fossil fuel while capturing and storing CO₂ from ambient air.

• Ebb Carbon: developing a new marine CO₂ removal solution by enhancing the ocean’s inherent ability to store CO₂ with electrochemical technology.

• Elysia: removes CO₂ using electrospun nanomaterials, processing large amounts of air quickly with low energy and minimal costs.

• Heimdal: builds machines that use mineral sorbents to capture and permanently sequester atmospheric CO₂.

• Holocene: a direct air capture (DAC) technology developer and CDR service provider constructing liquid-based, continuous, and low-temperature systems.

• Parallel Carbon: uses renewable power with integrated DAC and water electrolysis processes to maximize value and reduce costs.

Last year, Black & Veatch partnered with Samsung Heavy Industries to undertake the front-end engineering design work for the Ksi Lisims LNG floating production facility in northwest Canada. The proposed project emphasizes environmental consciousness and targets a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The Ksi Lisims LNG project, a joint venture between Western LNG, the Nisga’a Nation, and Rockies LNG, marks a significant milestone in Canadian history as one of the most substantial Indigenous-led infrastructure initiatives. Hosted on the Nisga'a Nation's exclusive treaty land, Ksi Lisims will utilize a floating LNG design, improving the project's economics, lessening land impacts, and minimizing construction-related risks.

With commercial operations slated to start in 2028, the Ksi Lisims LNG facility aims to generate up to 12 million metric tons of LNG per annum for export to international markets. Upon completion, it will boast one of the lowest unit carbon emissions rates globally for any large-scale LNG export projects. This will be achieved by connecting to British Columbia's renewable hydroelectric grid and integrating specific design features, which will result in greenhouse gas emissions being 90% lower than conventional LNG facilities.