Amsterdam-based Brineworks, a company specialised in electrolysis technology, has secured €5M in a new funding round led by SeaX Ventures.
Contentlockr
SeaX Ventures is a global venture capital firm that invests in deep-tech startups creating innovative solutions for the future.
The firm aims to help entrepreneurs who are developing technologies that can boost GDP growth by 1 per cent and decrease global carbon emissions by 1 per cent in the next decade.
“At SeaX, we’re always looking for visionary founders solving massive problems with science-backed solutions, and Brineworks is exactly that,” says Dr. Kid Parchariyanon, Founder and Managing Partner at SeaX Ventures. “Their team is rethinking how we tackle carbon removal and clean fuel from the ground up, with an approach that’s as ambitious as it is necessary. This investment marks an inflexion point for Brineworks, and we believe they have the potential to meaningfully reduce global emissions. Supporting them aligns directly with our goal of helping to cut 1% of the world’s carbon footprint—we’re proud to be part of their journey.”
Participating investors include Pale Blue Dot, First Momentum, AiiM Partners, Energie360°, and Katapult.
On other news, Eindhoven-based Carbyon unveiled Carbyon GO, a DAC machine, showcasing the potential for scalable and affordable carbon capture.
Advancing on two fronts
In addition to this, the Dutch company has also been awarded a €1.8M grant from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator to advance R&D and pilot deployment further.
Currently, the Dutch company is advancing on two fronts simultaneously.
“Research continues to target cost downs (energy use, stack design, materials) while field pilots validate performance under variable weather, power intermittency, and operational cycles,” says Gudfinnur Sveinsson to Silicon Canals.
The results from these tests will help them improve designs and manufacturing to further reduce costs.
Funding and challenges
The new funding will be used to expand the testing system, to be ready for commercial use by the end of 2026.
However, the Dutch company has its own set of challenges.
“For Brineworks, the key challenges include manufacturing electrolysers at volume, securing the lowest-cost renewable power at sites with adequate interconnection, and building early markets that recognise the value of clean CO₂ and H₂. Additional work includes site selection and permitting for suitable pilot locations,” says Gudfinnur Sveinsson.
If Brineworks meets its targets, airlines could start using carbon-neutral fuels before the decade ends.
The announcement comes over a year after raising $2.2M (approximately €2M) in funding led by VC firm Pale blue dot.
Brineworks: Specialised in electrolysis technology
Founded by Gudfinnur Sveinsson and Dr. Joseph Perryman, Brineworks has developed electrolysis technology that enables sustainable and affordable extraction of CO2 from the atmosphere while coproducing H2.
The company aims to build a scalable solution to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and maritime.
The Amsterdam-based company has created a new technology using a special electrolyser that makes Direct Air Capture (DAC) very affordable while also producing hydrogen (H₂).
Brinwork says that these outputs are crucial for developing sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and e-methanol for shipping, both of which need effective carbon-neutral alternatives.
For instance, aviation contributes 2.5 per cent of global CO₂ emissions, and demand is on the rise, while shipping accounts for over 3 per cent.
Explaining about the use cases, Sveinsson says, “Our H₂ stream can serve as a feedstock for e-fuels in road transport and off-road machinery, blend into natural gas grids, and support fertiliser and chemical production via green ammonia and methanol. It is also relevant for process heat and reduction in green steel production. Over time, distributed H₂ hubs near renewable resources could supply local industry while avoiding long-distance hydrogen transport.”
Focusing on flexibility
Unlike conventional systems, Brineworks’ electrolyser is designed for intermittent operation, enabling it to follow renewable power availability without degrading performance.
“Flexibility is central to the architecture,” says Sveinsson. “The system can operate intermittently and ramp with variable renewable availability – such as solar, wind, and hydro – reducing dependence on firm grid power and allowing direct use of low-price, otherwise-curtailed electricity.”
This capability solves a long-standing technical challenge — how to make DAC work reliably with low-cost materials in a renewable-powered grid.
Going beyond fuels
Carbon removal is an emerging trillion-dollar market where low-cost direct air capture (DAC) technology will be essential for achieving net-zero goals.
“Clean CO₂ streams can be used in various sectors, including controlled-environment agriculture (like greenhouses), beverages (such as carbonated drinks), and building materials (including cement and carbon-cured concrete), all of which value verified low-carbon CO₂. Additionally, in the long run, combining captured CO₂ with green hydrogen can create opportunities for producing valuable products in the plastics industry,” concludes Sveinsson.
