Amsterdam-based climate tech startup Brineworks has announced the successful close of a €6.8 million funding round to accelerate the commercialization of its ultra-low-cost Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. The round was led by SeaX Ventures, with participation from Pale Blue Dot, First Momentum, AiiM Partners, Energie360°, and Katapult. In addition, the company has been awarded a €1.8 million grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, the EU's flagship program supporting breakthrough technologies.

Brineworks’ innovation is a patented electrolyzer that not only captures CO₂ directly from ambient air at ultra-low costs but also co-produces clean hydrogen (H₂). Together, these outputs form the critical building blocks for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and e-methanol — two essential components for decarbonizing the hard-to-abate aviation and shipping sectors. Currently, aviation accounts for 2.5 per cent of global CO₂ emissions, while shipping contributes over 3 per cent, with both figures expected to grow unless scalable, clean alternatives are deployed.

"It's clear where the world is heading," said Gudfinnur Sveinsson, CEO of Brineworks. "Renewable energy is becoming cheaper faster than anyone predicted. The bottleneck now is flexible, affordable technology that can turn this power into climate solutions. That's what we’ve built — an electrolyzer that runs when the sun shines or the wind blows, and pauses when it doesn’t. We’re unlocking a dream that’s been out of reach for decades."

Unlike conventional DAC systems, Brineworks' electrolyzer is engineered for intermittent operation, allowing it to function seamlessly with the variable output of renewable energy sources — without sacrificing performance or efficiency. This solves one of the longest-standing technical barriers to cost-effective DAC: maintaining reliability and durability while operating on fluctuating power.

Since its founding in late 2023, Brineworks has moved rapidly from concept to successful prototype validation. The newly secured funding will support the company’s next phase: scaling the technology to pilot level, with the goal of achieving commercial readiness by the end of 2026. If milestones are met, carbon-neutral aviation fuel could become a reality before the end of the decade.

"At SeaX, we invest in visionary founders solving massive problems with science-backed solutions — and Brineworks is exactly that," said Dr. Kid Parchariyanon, Founder and Managing Partner at SeaX Ventures. "Their approach to carbon removal and clean fuel production is as ambitious as it is necessary. We believe Brineworks has the potential to meaningfully reduce global emissions, and supporting them aligns perfectly with our mission to help cut 1 per cent of the world’s carbon footprint."