Winners of 'Best CO₂ Utilisation 2025' Turn Emissions into Assets
Held in Cologne and online, the event attracted 230 global participants and 45 expert speakers, focusing on breakthroughs in Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU). Six finalists presented transformative solutions, with live audience voting determining the final three winners.
1st Prize: UP Catalyst (Estonia)
Innovation: Battery-grade graphite from CO₂
Technology: Molten Salt CO₂ Capture and Electrochemical Conversion (MSCC-EC)
Impact:
Produces graphite and carbon nanotubes with 50–95% less energy than conventional methods
Enables sustainable material production for lithium-ion batteries
Operates at significantly lower temperatures (500–750 °C vs. 2,800 °C)
upcatalyst.com
2nd Prize: Far Eastern New Century Corp. (Taiwan)
Innovation: FENC® TopGreen® CO₂-based Non-Isocyanate Polyurethanes (NIPU)
Application: Footwear, membranes, synthetic leather, elastic fibers
Impact:
World's first CO₂-based NIPU elastomer
Avoids toxic precursors like isocyanates
Captures and embeds over 50% CO₂ content in final polymers
Reduces carbon emissions by up to 58% over traditional TPU
fenc.com
3rd Prize: Oxylus Energy (USA)
Innovation: Electrolyser for direct CO₂-to-green methanol conversion
Technology: Electrochemical reduction using only water and renewable electricity
Impact:
Produces carbon-negative methanol
Supports hard-to-abate sectors (aviation, maritime, chemicals)
Competes cost-wise with fossil methanol
Enables direct industrial decarbonisation
oxylusenergy.com
Organisers & Sponsors:
The award is co-hosted by nova-Institute and CO₂ Value Europe, with sponsorship from Yncoris. Together, they promote renewable carbon strategies to reduce global dependence on fossil resources and advance climate goals through innovative CCU solutions.
CO₂ Value Europe represents over 110 member organisations globally, uniting start-ups, research institutions, and industrial leaders around the common goal of a circular carbon economy.
More information: co2value.eu
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