The new AWI spin-off provides climate-friendly raw materials to the industry
It all started with an idea: to use the ocean’s natural resources to develop new, climate-friendly raw materials for industry. To put this idea into action, in January 2022, dedicated researchers from AWI and the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Kiel joined forces with startups Seafields and Carbonwave, with support from BASF, to propose the project “C-CAUSE” (Chemical Carbon Utilization through Sargassum Economy) to the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIN-D) “Carbon to Value Challenge” competition. C-CAUSE was one of five projects selected for the initial phase of funding where an innovative value creation chain was developed: based on floating macroalgae cultivation (Floating sargassum And Sargassum swimming) in an open sea aquafarm, a renewable biological carbon feedstock will be produced for the chemical industry. Purpose: to contribute to the decarbonization of the chemical industry and simultaneously produce products that absorb carbon in the long term.
It all started with an idea: to use the ocean’s natural resources to develop new, climate-friendly raw materials for industry. To put this idea into action, in January 2022, dedicated researchers from AWI and the GEOMAR Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Kiel joined forces with startups Seafields and Carbonwave, with support from BASF, to propose the project “C-CAUSE” (Chemical Carbon Utilization through Sargassum Economy) to the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation (SPRIN-D) “Carbon to Value Challenge” competition. C-CAUSE was one of five projects selected for the initial phase of funding where an innovative value creation chain was developed: based on floating macroalgae cultivation (Floating sargassum And Sargassum swimming) in an open sea aquafarm, a renewable biological carbon feedstock will be produced for the chemical industry. Purpose: to contribute to the decarbonization of the chemical industry and simultaneously produce products that absorb carbon in the long term.
In order to spur further development activities in the context of the second phase of SPRIN-D funding and to pursue technical improvements in a more agile manner, the AWI MACROCARBON SL spin-off was established on 23 March 2023. According to Dr Mar Fernández Méndez, founder and Managing Director of the AWI spin-off, the aim are as follows: “MACROCARBON will develop an integrated supply chain for agriculture and processing Sargassum algae. Since Sargassum floats on water, no need for expensive longlines. In addition, algae grow quickly and thrive in many areas. It offers very efficient CO2 repair through natural photosynthesis. After harvest, the carbon-rich biomass can be processed into raw materials for the chemical industry (eg bio-naphtha), which can be used to replace products that have been produced using fossil fuels. In this way, MACROCARBON will contribute to decarbonization, setting 100 million metric tons by 2040, and one gigatonne CO2carbon based by 2050.
AWI and its spin-off MACROCARBON also plan to continue working together in the future. In this case, AWI will use its understanding of biological processes to monitor carbon flows and environmental safety to help MACROCARBON build innovative value creation chains.
Las Palmas, Gran Canaria was chosen as the location for the company’s headquarters because Sargassum developing in nearby waters and the young MACROCARBON company will have access to a unique platform and test facility (Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands, PLOCAN), which is suitable for large-scale trials and test pilot facilities. In addition, sites in the Atlantic are easily accessible and offer the necessary conditions for open seas. The Canary Islands are part of the EU, relevant for funding from SPRIN-D and EU sources. In addition, they offer an attractive “ecosystem” for newly established companies – especially with respect to a “blue” bioeconomy.
In addition to the support received from SPRIN-D, two startups Seafields and Carbonwave are planning to invest in MACROCARBON. Furthermore, Jason Cole, currently Head of Innovation at Carbonwave, is slated to join the founding team at MACROCARBON. Given their previous work with aquaculture and seagrass recycling, both companies can provide valuable experience.
In late March, spin-off AWI MACROCARBON was invited to attend Investor Day organized by four non-academic research associations Helmholtz, Max Planck, Fraunhofer and Leibniz in Munich. At the event, 40 selected start-ups were presented to more than 100 investors. MACROCARBON sparked considerable interest among investors, demonstrating that the concept has great potential, from both an ecological and economic perspective.
In the Gulf of Mexico, for example, where large algal beds of brown algae are currently washing towards the Florida coast, there have been several attempts to harness sargassum biomass. However, so far, it has not been possible to guarantee reliable recycling on an industrial scale because the inflow from Sargassum on the coast fluctuates too much. On the other hand, controlled aqua farming, as planned by MACROCARBON, allows for sustainable production which can then also recover and use the stranded biomass in an economically viable way. Indirectly, MACROCARBON can contribute to solving problems like those in the Caribbean because it is developing methods of aquafarming and recycling of sargassum.
“For me as a marine biologist, the creation of this company was a very interesting process, but also challenging. I learned a lot at investor events. Thanks to the support of the wonderful SPRIN-D trainers and the AWI Technology Transfer office, we came prepared,” said Mar Fernández Méndez. “In its latest Synthesis Report, the IPCC once again underscores the urgent need to finally take concrete action. That is what motivates me to turn our research findings into major commercial applications through improvement.”
Further information:
Video on the Carbon Challenge to Value SPRIN-D: https://www.sprind.org/en/challenges/carbon-to-value (C-CAUSE from 10:28)
Previous AWI news on C-CAUSE: https://www.awi.de/ueber-uns/service/presse/presse-detailansicht/default-0f90dfdb88-1.html
Young Investigator Group Side-EFFECT, led by Mar Fernández Méndez: https://www.awi.de/forschung/biowissenschaften/polare-biologische-ozeanographie/arbeitsgruppen/helmholtz-nachwuchsgruppe-side-effect.html (see in particular Current Projects , points 2 and 3)
Canary Islands Maritime Platform (PLOCAN): https://plocan.eu/en
Marine farms: https://www.seafields.eco/
Carbon wave: https://carbonwave.com/
Notes to Editors:
You can find printable images in the online version of this press release: https://www.awi.de/en/about-us/service/press.html
Your contact partner at the Alfred Wegener Institute is Dr. Mar Fernàndez-Méndez, tel. +49 (0)471 4831 1895 (email: (email protected))
If you have further questions, Nils Ehrenberg, tel. +49 (0)471 4831 2008 (email: (email protected)) at AWI’s Communications and Media Relations Department will be happy to assist you.
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The Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Marine and Polar Research (AWI) conducts research in the Arctic, Antarctic and oceans at high and middle latitudes. It coordinates polar research in Germany and provides key infrastructure for the international scientific community, such as the research icebreaker Polarstern and stations in the Arctic and Antarctic. The Alfred Wegener Institute is one of 18 research centers of the Helmholtz Association, Germany’s largest scientific organization
