What does it take to succeed as a DAC company in 2024?

Episode 39 is with Mark Cyffka, Co-Founder and COO of AirMyne. 

Today Na’im speaks with Mark Cyffka about common barriers to scaling the different approaches of direct air capture technologies, how AirMyne is looking to bypass those barriers with its technology, what the cost trajectory of DAC will be between now and 2050, and how to think about the modularity versus large-system approaches of developing DAC technologies.

In this episode, Na’im and Mark discuss:

• AirMyne’s progress since the company was launched;

• Common barriers to scaling direct air capture today;

• AirMyne’s technology;

• Cost trajectory for DAC by 2050;

• AirMyne’s partnership with CO2 offtakes and its’ role in in the two Regional DAC Hub projects in parallel to its partners;

• Policy initiatives to address gaps in the scaling of DAC; and

• The importance of social acceptance for DAC to scale.

Relevant Links:

• AirMyne’s website

• “Hello world, we’re AirMyne.”

• TechCrunch - “AirMyne taps geothermal energy to scale direct air carbon capture”

• ETH Zurich - Cost of direct air carbon capture to remain higher than hoped

• Berkeley Lab - Exploring Community-Centered Direct Air Capture

• U.S. Department of Energy - Project Selections for FOA 2735: Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs – Topic Area 1 (Feasibility) and Topic Area 2 (Design)

About Mark:

Mark Cyffka is the co-founder at AirMyne where he leads day to day operations. Before AirMyne, Mark spent more than a decade in operations roles in the deeptech ecosystem, including sales, engineering, and product management roles. At BASF, Mark helped invent & commercialize products used to manufacture EVs and solar power systems. After the success of that product led to a spin-out, Mark advised the Finnish government on deeptech innovation with a focus on climate. Mark studied chemistry at Harvey Mudd College.

About AirMyne:

AirMyne is a company working to scale high-quality carbon removal through direct air capture (DAC). The company is based in Berkeley, California and employs 19 people. AirMyne has built, demonstrated, and patented a low-temperature, solvent-based DAC approach designed for low cost, safety, and scalability. 

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This episode was created and published by Na’im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.

Na’im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na’im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.

Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.

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