Capturing carbon from industrial sites has always been expensive, especially when dealing with flue gases containing low CO₂ concentrations. Typically, these emissions range between 4% and 15% CO₂, making traditional carbon capture methods too costly for industries. But Belgian startup ARK Capture Solutions is changing the game.
With its innovative technology, ARK aims to slash carbon capture costs by half. This breakthrough could help industries cut their carbon footprint without draining their budgets. The solution runs on renewable energy, operates downstream from emission points, and produces high-purity CO₂ ready for storage or reuse. Better yet, its autonomous, modular, and all-electric design ensures easy integration with existing infrastructure—without compromising health, safety, or the environment.
In a major boost, ARK Capture Solutions has secured €2.2 million in pre-seed funding to push its mission forward. Leading the round are Aperam Ventures and Seeder Fund, joined by Climate Club, BeAngels, Lune Ventures, InvestBW, Noshaq, and Wallonie Entreprendre. Raising this capital just nine months after launching signals strong investor confidence in ARK’s vision.
The fresh funding fuels ARK’s ambitious plan to make carbon capture viable for industries facing strict climate targets. As the world races toward net-zero emissions by 2050, solutions like ARK’s will be critical.
Founded by Experts in Clean Technologies
ARK Capture Solutions was founded in Belgium by Samuel Thiry and Aurélien Vantomme—two experts with over 30 years of combined experience in clean tech innovation. Thiry, serving as CEO, holds a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from École Polytechnique de Louvain and has led projects at TotalEnergies, Memoco, and John Cockerill’s Hydrogen division. Vantomme, the R&D Director, earned his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from Université de Namur and brings deep expertise in developing sustainable technologies.
The duo met during their time at TotalEnergies and quickly identified a glaring gap in the carbon capture market. Most solutions ignored low-concentration CO₂ emissions, leaving industries with limited options. Motivated by this challenge, they founded ARK to deliver a scalable and cost-effective answer.
Now is the perfect moment for this innovation. Europe’s Emission Trading System (ETS) is phasing out free CO₂ quotas by 2034. This change means polluting industries will soon face skyrocketing emission costs—potentially six times higher than today. ARK’s hybrid carbon capture technology is designed to help industries navigate these rising expenses while significantly reducing their environmental impact.
A Fresh Approach to Low-Emission Carbon Capture
Unlike competitors focusing on high-concentration emissions, ARK stands out by targeting the largely neglected low-concentration segment. Technologies from firms like Carbon Clean Solutions and Climeworks don’t fully address this space. ARK’s approach is different—and timely.
In summer 2024, ARK filed its first patent, marking a milestone in its rapid progress. The company’s proprietary hybrid technology efficiently captures CO₂ from sources with concentrations as low as 4%—which account for nearly 50% of global Tier 2 industrial emissions. Addressing this untapped market could position ARK as a major player in industrial decarbonization efforts.
“We’re proud to unlock this overlooked segment, responsible for half the world’s emissions,” the founders shared.
Scaling Up to Serve Industrial Partners
With new funding secured, ARK is accelerating its growth. A prototype unit already captures 2 tons of CO₂ per year. Now, the team is scaling up to a 40-ton-per-year pilot. Plans are also in motion for a full-scale demonstration unit capturing between 400 and 1,000 tons annually in collaboration with three top-tier industrial partners.
The team itself is growing fast. Recent additions include Fanni, a CO₂ conversion expert with a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Berlin, and François Harvengt, who now leads engineering efforts as Chief Technical Officer.
ARK is also exploring flexible business models to lower adoption barriers for industries. One promising approach is “Capture as a Service.” This model lets companies deploy ARK’s technology without hefty upfront investments. Instead, they can opt for long-term service agreements or buy equipment with maintenance packages—making carbon capture more accessible.
Strong Industrial Backing and Real-World Application
Aperam Ventures, a lead investor, is already looking forward to testing ARK’s technology in real-world conditions. “We’re excited to support ARK’s mission. Their solution fits perfectly with our carbon neutrality goals, especially for low-concentration flue gases in our industrial processes,” said Thorsten Zimmermann, Head of Aperam Ventures. Plans are underway to test ARK’s demonstration unit at Aperam Châtelet.
Poised to Lead in a Growing Market
While the carbon capture industry is home to major players, ARK’s focus on affordability, scalability, and easy integration for low-concentration emissions sets it apart. As industries worldwide race to meet decarbonization targets, ARK Capture Solutions is positioned to become a vital partner.
With this fresh funding and rapid technological advances, ARK is ready to play a key role in fighting climate change. By helping industries tackle low-concentration CO₂ emissions—right at the source—ARK offers a practical solution to a complex problem.
