Carbon utilisation company Barton Blakeley has announced a £2.4m funding round led by Elbow Beach Capital.

The Harpenden-based company has developed a chemical process designed to convert CO2 emissions into clean energy and synthetic silica, promising to save over 1 kilo-tonne of carbon per year.

The fresh funding will allow the company to deploy its first commercial system at an industrial site.

CEO of Barton Blakeley Christopher Barton said: “It is exciting to be taking firm steps towards commercialisation through placing our first system at an industrial site.

“We look forward to working with industry partners to see this opportunity grow.”

The company have also announced that former group CEO of RWE Npower, Volker Beckers, CBE, will become chair of Barton Blakeley, having received his CBE for his services to nuclear energy earlier this year.

Beckers said: “I am pleased to be joining Barton Blakeley at this pivotal time for the company.

“I look forward to supporting the company as it enters its first commercial partnerships and navigates the scale-up process with a great partner in Elbow Beach Capital.”

Founded in 2016, the tech firm has developed modular sites that directly capture and utilise the CO2 emissions on the sites of industry partners, designed to produce cleaner energy.

Barton Blakeley’s green technology uses this energy to produce synthetic silica for cheaper than the traditionally highly carbon-intensive and expensive production method, which uses approximately 30kg of CO2 to produce 1kg of silica.

The material offers a significant commercial opportunity for the company, underpinning a $500bn global market with uses in everyday items such as internet cables and phones.

Elbow Beach Capital put £1.7m into the funding round, its latest in the climate tech sector.

The VC firm has previously backed waste-to-waste energy solution provider, WASE, and cathode technology company, Anaphite.

“We are delighted to be supporting Barton Blakeley and pleased to lead this funding round,” said Elbow Beach Capital CEO Jonathan Pollock.

“Their team has developed some exceptional technology and the commercial application has wide-reaching implications.”

The funding will also support Barton Blakeley’s four-year plan to save 16.5 kilo-tonnes of CO2 each year.

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