Frequently Asked Questions

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General Questions

What does Svante do?

Svante manufactures solid filters and machines that capture CO2 from industrial emissions and the air. The company’s proven carbon capture and removal technology is based on unique solid sorbents — and it is scalable, modular, and more environmentally-friendly.

What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)?

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) is a set of technologies and processes that trap diluted carbon dioxide found in post-combustion flue gas streams (at 3-20% concentration) or directly from the atmosphere (0.04% concentration). The technology concentrates the CO2 to 95%+ purity so that it can either be used to make other products in a closed loop or safely stored deep underground. Typically, CO2 is stored in saline aquifers or depleted oil wells. We capture CO2 because it’s a notorious greenhouse gas that impacts global warming.

What role does Svante play in CCUS?

Svante provides companies in heavy industries that have hard-to-avoid emissions with solid sorbent-based carbon capture and removal technology. We partner with other organizations who utilize the captured CO2 or store it safely underground.

What is carbon capture and removal technology?

Carbon capture and removal refers to technologies that trap unavoidable carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from heavy emitting industrial processes such as chemical production and the burning of fossil fuels. Svante’s solid sorbent-based filters can be used to capture CO2 directly from the air (known as direct air capture or DAC), as well as from the source of emission at industrial sites, known as “point-source carbon capture”. Point-source carbon capture takes CO2 out of emissions from hard-to-decarbonize industrial sites, such as lime, pulp & paper, cement, steel, oil & gas, fertilizer, aluminum, and hydrogen plants.

What happens after carbon dioxide (CO2) gets captured?

CO2 is concentrated to 95% purity (if captured from a dilute source), transported via pipelines, trucks, or ships, and subsequently sequestered in secure underground carbon storage sites, such as saline aquifers. Alternatively, the captured CO2 can be used for numerous commercial purposes such as concrete curing, also known as “green cement,” where captured CO2 is injected into concrete and trapped. Other applications include sustainable jet fuel, and consumer products such as diamonds and shoe soles made from carbon.

Why do we need to capture carbon from the air or from industrial emissions?

The UN International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)  reports that to limit warming to 1.5C, we must employ carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies alongside other climate change-fighting tools such as renewables, electrification, hydrogen and more.


The world needs to capture and remove CO2 that is already in the atmosphere (through direct air capture technology), as this CO2 continues to drive global warming. We also need to prevent more CO2 from reaching the atmosphere, which is the primary role of point-source carbon capture technology, such as Svante’s point-source technology.

How can captured CO2 be utilized?

Captured CO2 can be used to make other industrial and consumer products, including sustainable jet fuel, “green” or “cured” cement (also a method of storing CO2), diamonds, footwear, and more.

Carbon Capture & Removal Solutions

What is Svante carbon capture and removal technology?

Svante’s technology is made up of an ecosystem of the following components:

 

  • Solid sorbents (porous amines for direct air capture and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) for point source carbon capture);

 

  • Nanoengineered Filters (which we call “structured adsorbent beds” or “SABs”). These are made of up stacked thin sheets of material that have our solid sorbent coated onto each layer;

 

  • Rotary contactor carbon capture machines (known as “rotary adsorption machines” or “RAMs”). These machines utilize Svante’s patented temperature swing adsorption (TSA) carbon capture process, “VeloxoThermTM”.

What makes Svante unique?

Svante’s second-generation carbon capture technology is based on novel solid sorbent-based filters, which make it unique on several fronts, including the following:

 

Environmentally Friendly   

Svante’s proprietary carbon capture and removal process is better for business and humankind. Our solid sorbent-based filters are chemical emission-free.

 

Flexible Technology Applications  

Different sorbent materials can be applied to various diluted concentrations of CO2 in the air & in industrial flue gas — enabling a wide array of applications across industries.

 

Scalable, Modular Design  

Compact, modular design makes our technology repeatable, adaptable, and efficient on capital costs at all scales.

 

Simplified Process  

Handles operational intermittence, start/stop, and load following with ease – no tall gas-liquid towers or complicated chemical plants required.

 

Technology Backed by Science

Our work with solid sorbents and metal-organic frameworks (known as “MOFs”) has been well documented and proven in the world’s top science and engineering circles.

 

Expertise You Can Trust

We have partnered with leading global construction & engineering companies who can build a custom carbon capture plant based on our clients’ specific needs.

 

Unparalleled Support

Before, during and after bringing your carbon capture plant online, we will help you and your team with documentation, training, and post-project support to ensure you always have everything you need.

Who is Svante carbon capture and removal technology for?

Svante’s carbon capture solutions are made for heavy-emitting industries that are proven difficult to decarbonize. These industries include:

  • Cement
  • Steel
  • Lime
  • Hydrogen
  • Aluminum
  • Oil & Gas
  • Pulp & Paper
  • Fertilizer
  • Petrochemicals

Svante’s filters are also available for direct air capture (DAC) solutions providers.

How many carbon capture plants does Svante currently have?

Currently, we have four pilot plants in various locations around North America, including:

  • Lafarge Canada Cement Plant in Richmond, BC, Canada
  • Cenovus in Lloydminster, SK, Canada
  • Chevron Kern River Oil Field, California, USA
  • Climeworks DAC Testing Centre in Los Angeles, California, USA

Corporate

How much did Svante raise in its most recent fundraising round?

Svante’s most recent fundraising round, Series E, closed at $318M USD.

Before the Series E Announcement, how much had Svante raised?

Pre-series E closing, Svante raised over $200 million USD in funding from private investors and the Canadian Government.

When was Svante founded?

Svante was founded in 2007, in Burnaby, BC, Canada

Who is Svante’s CEO?

Svante’s President & CEO is Claude Letourneau, ICD.D.

Who founded Svante?

Brett Henkel, our Co-Founder and Vice President of Strategic Accounts and Government Affairs founded Svante in his garage in Burnaby in 2007, along with 3 other co-founders who are no longer with the company.

Where can I get more information about Svante?

Visit www.svanteinc.com