Entries open for CarbonX 2.0 Boundless Innovation Program

Leveraging tens of millions of USD of catalytic grant funding, CarbonX Program 2.0 focuses on pioneering advancements in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR), and Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES).

Now open for proposals from visionary technology teams worldwide, the program will drive impactful demonstration projects, support startups with high economic potential, and strengthen foundational capabilities to enable transformative low-carbon innovations.

Categories

• Carbon Dioxide Removal
• CCUS for the Steel Industry
• CarbonXmade: Carbon Capture and Utilization
• Long-Duration Energy Storage

Benefits

• 1-3 final winning teams in each track will be selected; the CarbonX Program will support them in constructing first-of-its-kind pilots with millions to tens of millions USD in funding.
• For: Universities, research institutes, and other non -profit organizations:
  • Grants: Direct grant support for demonstration for pilot demonstration projects and future equity
• For: Early-stage startups:
  • Grants + future investment terms: grant support for pilot projects investment rights through warrants.

Proposal Requirements

• Carbon Dioxide Removal:
  • The proposal should provide an innovative, hundred-tonne-scale, permanent, technology-based carbon removal closed-loop solution, with the East African Rift in Kenya as the pilot site.
  • Proposals must address scenario characteristics, such as temperature, humidity, and CO₂ concentration. Captured CO₂ may undergo geological sequestration (e.g., basalt storage).
  • The proposed project must represent the first-of-its-kind pilot for the technology or process in a real-world scenario.
• CCUS for the Steel Industry:
  • Proposals should provide thousand-tonne-scale CCUS closed-loop solutions for the blast furnace ironmaking processes at HBIS Serbia, a key industry parter in CarbonX Program 2.0.
  • Proposals must consider scenario characteristics such as gas temperature, pressure, and CO₂ concentration. Captured CO₂ must be integrated into steel production processes (e.g., CO or H₂ reutilization) or converted into valuable chemical products (e.g., calcium carbonate, methanol).
  • Projects should represent the first-of-its-kind, thousand-tonne-scale application of the proposed technology or process in real-world steelmaking scenarios.
• CarbonXmade: Carbon Capture and Utilization:
  • Teams should apply captured carbon to direct use or chemical productions and, ultimately, consumer-facing materials either independently or through collaboration.
  • This track focuses primarily on utilization, and capture capacity is not a key consideration. If the project involves multiple entities (e.g., separate leads for capture and utilization), the primary applicant must submit the proposal and list collaborators in the application form and supporting materials.
  • The first-round selection will prioritize technical innovation and impact. Detailed parameters and boundary conditions will be provided for the finalists, with project feasibility becoming a key criterion in the final evaluation.
• Long-Duration Energy Storage:
  • Proposals should present an innovative LDES solution capable of delivering at least 100 kW with a duration of over 6 hours for Himandhoo Island in the Maldives.
  • Proposals must consider the specific conditions and characteristics of the Himandhoo Island site, balancing innovation with feasibility. Key factors include, but are not limited to, the island’s average and peak energy load and consumption data, available site area and conditions (e.g., lagoon and terrestrial areas), environmental and ecological impacts, and visual/landscape effects.
  • The proposed project should represent the first-of-its-kind real-world application of the technology or process, scaled to 100 kW/MWh, in an off-grid island scenario.

Geographical Focus

• The program welcomes teams from around the world, with no restrictions on geographic location.

Eligibility Criteria

• The program primarily focuses on cutting-edge low-carbon technologies, seeking applications from universities, research institutions, and startups. If the application team is beyond the stated scope, but the technology itself is sufficiently cutting-edge and innovative, you are also welcome to apply.

Evaluation Criteria

• Innovation: Projects must feature significant technological breakthroughs alongside cost-reduction potential.
• Impact: Projects should demonstrate scalability and broad applicability, including market size and its contributions to carbon sequestration or emissions reduction.
• Implementation: Projects should be feasible and sustainable. This includes alignment with specific scenarios and industry partners, as well as the complexity of technology deployment.

For more information, visit CarbonX Program.