From children’s concerns to megatonnes of net CO2 removal

No, Sherbrooke University professor Martin Brouillette was not driven by a lifelong passion for environmentalism. As a leading figure in technology development, specializing in aerospace and medical devices, climate change never was an issue. Brouillette: At the turn of the century my children Caroline, Louis and Élise started to urge me, “You’re an inventor, do something about it. We need a solution.” I consistently responded, “I don’t know anything about the environment. It’s not my specialty.”

But in 2018, his mindset began to change. Motivated by the realization that inaction was no longer an option, he decided to explore how his expertise could contribute to climate change. 6 years later his company Skyrenu became a XPRIZE finalist.

A project, a prize, a partnership

The adventure started with Gabriel Vézina. The young Ph.D. graduate received numerous job offers, but nothing he was excited about. Seeing an opportunity, Martin started by hiring Gabriel for a year - just to educate Martin on the secrets of climate change. Martin: “I asked him: bring me up to speed on the pressing issues of global warming so we can identify a project where we can make a difference.” Enter DAC, an on-site modular direct air capture system that captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere and uses a low-cost, environmentally friendly solid adsorbent. In 2021 the project won the prestigious XPRIZE in the student competition. The same year Martin and Gabriel started Skyrenu Technologies Inc., based on their first patent, filed a year before.

 A prototype for 10 tons per year

Skyrenu’s journey now continues with a focus on refining and scaling their DAC technology. Martin: “In 2023 we built a prototype capable of removing 10 tons of CO2 per year. This prototype, now operational for a full year, allows us to learn, refine, and improve the system. With our team of 8 people we are setting the stage for future expansion, thanks also to the participation of Deep Sky and CarbonFix.”

Canada is made for Skyrenu

Skyrenu returns the CO2 residue to the source where it was once created: the rocks of Canadian mines. Martin: “Canada with its extensive mining history is perfect for us. The carbon can be stored there for millions of years. Besides that: the country's reliance on hydroelectric power means that green, cost-effective energy is readily available - a perfect match for our needs. We have sold a first system to Deep Sky for their test facility in Alberta (Canada) and this will represent a first scale-up of our technology to capture 50 tons of CO2 per year.” Skyrenu’s achievements have placed them among the top 20 finalists in the XPRIZE competition, out of 1,200 participants - a true David versus Goliath scenario. The team is both proud and surprised by their progress, but knows scaling up will be tough. 

An entire new industry

Martin: “We have identified and solved the technical issues at our current scale. Making a meaningful impact on climate change will require the removal of gigatons of CO2. Achieving this will necessitate the production of thousands of DAC machines and the creation of an entire industry, including supply chain, manufacturing infrastructure, compliance, and more.”

Who will pay?

“The question is: who will fund this massive undertaking?” Martin says. “Initiatives like CarbonFix are crucial, providing not only financial support but also credibility and connections that can help us expand our activities. Their philanthropic approach offers hope that the necessary resources can be mobilized to make large-scale carbon removal a reality.”

Skyrenu’s journey is far from over, but their progress shows what can be achieved when science meets pragmatism and innovation meets determination. As they continue to scale up, their work could play a pivotal role in the global effort to combat climate change.

https://carbonfix.org/blog/skyrenu-from-childrens-concerns-to-megatonnes-of-net-co2-removal/