Cambridge-based Remedium cleans up at TechX with climate impact prize

Remedium, a clean energy start-up that was spun out of the University of Cambridge, has won a £50,000 climate impact prize.

The company was founded by a group of young scientists who first teamed up over lunch at the University’s Energy Group.

The team has since developed an ultra-low-cost system to capture carbon from industrial chimneys, one of the toughest challenges in the push for net zero.

Remedium was named winner of the Climate Impact Prize at the Net Zero Technology Centre’s annual TechX Demo Day in Aberdeen last week.

The prize, awarded by NZTC sponsor ConocoPhillips, is given to the startup with the most promising emissions reduction and commercial impact potential.

The event marked the conclusion of this year’s 18-week TechX accelerator programme.

Each of the graduating start-ups pitched their ideas to an audience of industry leaders, investors and tech experts. The event was also livestreamed to viewers worldwide.

This year’s group of 12 startups includes companies focused on greener fuels, digital tools for offshore energy, low-carbon hydrogen and new methods for capturing or cutting carbon emissions.

Remedium’s technology, Limeloop, captures carbon dioxide from industrial processes such as cement and steel production – sectors that are especially difficult to decarbonise.

The system uses a custom-made synthetic limestone and a heat battery to trap more CO2 at a significantly lower cost. It promises to remove more than 90 per cent of emissions while producing high-temperature heat for industry, with the potential to reduce capture costs by more than 80 per cent compared to current methods.

While Cambridge-based Remedium took the top prize, all participants will receive further support through TechX Growth, a two-year programme offering co-working space, access to NZTC’s network of experts and investors, and its ecosystem partners.

Omid Saghafifar, chief executive of Remedium, said: “Winning the Climate Impact Prize is a real boost for our team. It recognises the progress we’ve made and the potential of our technology to help cut emissions.

“The TechX programme has helped us sharpen our thinking and move faster towards getting our solution into the hands of customers.

“This award comes at the right time for us. The funding will support the next phase of our development, whether that’s building partnerships, testing at scale or refining the technology.

“We’re genuinely grateful to NZTC and ConocoPhillips for their backing and belief in what we’re building.”