Brineworks: 10 Key Things You Must Know

Overview

Established in 2023, Brineworks is a pioneering ClimateTech startup based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, focused on developing breakthrough technologies for capturing carbon dioxide and producing green hydrogen. At the forefront of electrochemical innovation, Brineworks is creating scalable solutions to tackle climate change, specifically targeting the decarbonization of hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and maritime shipping. The company has rapidly gained attention for its patented electrolyzer technology that operates flexibly on renewable energy sources, promising ultra-low-cost Direct Air Capture (DAC) and hydrogen co-production. This article explores ten crucial aspects of Brineworks' mission, technology, impact, and future prospects.

1. Founding and Vision

Brineworks was founded in 2023 by Gudfinnur Sveinsson, a Columbia University alumnus with expertise in climate policy and innovation, alongside Dr. Joseph Perryman, an electrochemist with postdoctoral experience at Stanford University. Together, they envisioned leveraging advanced electrochemistry and policy knowledge to devise scalable solutions for carbon capture and sustainable fuel production. Their vision centers on overcoming the economic and technical barriers to making carbon-neutral fuels widely accessible, particularly in industries where decarbonization remains challenging.

2. Breakthrough Electrolyzer Technology

At the heart of Brineworks’ innovation is a patented electrolyzer designed to run flexibly using intermittent renewable energy, such as solar and wind power. Unlike conventional electrolyzers that degrade under variable power, their system can pause and resume operation without loss of efficiency or performance. It simultaneously captures carbon dioxide directly from the air and co-produces green hydrogen, essential components for synthesizing sustainable e-fuels. This technological breakthrough enables significantly lower operating costs and enhanced adaptability to renewable energy fluctuations.

3. Market Focus: Decarbonizing Aviation and Shipping

Aviation and maritime shipping collectively contribute over 5% of global carbon dioxide emissions, sectors notoriously difficult to decarbonize due to energy density requirements and infrastructure constraints. Brineworks targets these industries by producing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and e-methanol, utilizing captured CO₂ and green hydrogen to create carbon-neutral alternatives to fossil fuels. Their technology aims to provide the scalable supply of clean fuels necessary to meet increasing global demand while mitigating the environmental impact.

4. Ultra-Low Cost CO₂ Capture Ambitions

One of Brineworks’ most ambitious goals is to reduce the cost of capturing CO₂ to below €100 per metric ton, a threshold that many experts agree is critical for widespread adoption of carbon capture technologies. Current DAC systems often operate at costs exceeding €500 per ton, making Brineworks' innovation a potential game-changer in the economics of carbon removal. The company’s modular electrolyzer design and renewable-powered operation contribute to this cost reduction, aiming to make DAC both accessible and scalable worldwide.

5. Funding and Investment Milestones

In September 2025, Brineworks successfully raised €6.8 million in a funding round led by SeaX Ventures, with participation from multiple investors, including Pale Blue Dot, First Momentum, AiiM Partners, Energie360°, and Katapult. Earlier, the company received a €1.8 million grant from the European Innovation Council’s Accelerator program to accelerate research, development, and pilot deployments. This capital injection supports Brineworks’ efforts to scale its technology from prototype to commercial pilot stage by the end of 2026.

6. Flexible Renewable Energy Integration

A distinctive feature of Brineworks’ electrolyzer is its capability to efficiently operate under variable renewable energy supply conditions. It can run when the sun shines or the wind blows and pause without damage when renewable power is unavailable. This flexibility allows the system to capitalize on low-cost, clean energy, aligning economic and environmental objectives and addressing the intermittency challenge that has hindered broader DAC deployment in power grids heavily reliant on renewables.

7. Co-Production of Clean Hydrogen

Alongside capturing CO₂, Brineworks’ technology co-produces significant amounts of green hydrogen, a clean energy carrier essential to future energy systems and chemical manufacturing. The dual production of hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide provides the critical inputs for synthesizing e-fuels, enhancing economic viability by supplying two valuable commodities within a single integrated process. This synergy supports the transition toward renewable-sourced fuels across multiple industries.

8. Geographic Reach and Pilot Plans

Brineworks aims to deploy its technology globally, focusing on regions abundant in renewable energy. The company has partnerships across North America, Europe, and Asia and plans to demonstrate scalable projects in Northern Africa and the Middle East to validate performance across different climates. These pilot projects will be crucial for proving commercial viability, optimizing system design, and advancing toward mass production.

9. Addressing Challenges and Market Barriers

While the technology is innovative, Brineworks confronts challenges including scaling manufacturing capacity for electrolyzers, securing low-cost renewable energy at pilot and future commercial sites, and navigating permitting and regulatory requirements. Additionally, building early markets that recognize and value low-cost clean CO₂ and hydrogen presents a commercial hurdle. The company is actively working on these fronts, collaborating with partners and investors to accelerate market adoption.

10. Future Prospects and Climate Impact

If Brineworks achieves its goals, the company could play a transformative role in enabling carbon-neutral fuels for aviation and shipping well before 2030. This would facilitate significant reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions in sectors currently lacking viable decarbonization pathways. By lowering the cost of carbon capture and integrating with renewable energy, Brineworks champions a decentralized and resilient energy model, offering energy independence and scalable solutions aligned with global climate targets.

Conclusion

Brineworks represents a cutting-edge force in the global effort to combat climate change by marrying advanced electrochemical technology with renewable energy flexibility. Founded by experts in climate policy and electrochemistry, the company is shaping the future of ultra-low-cost Direct Air Capture and green hydrogen production to fuel sustainable e-fuels for difficult-to-decarbonize industries. With ambitious targets, strong backing, and innovative technology, Brineworks exemplifies how innovation can unlock pathways to a more sustainable, carbon-neutral world. The progress made here invites reflection on how rapidly evolving technologies can reshape our energy landscape and meet urgent climate goals.