#232 Why Google Bet Big on This Carbon Capture Startup—And Why It’s Cheaper | Anca Timofte (Holocene)

In this issue:

• How Holocene Landed Google as a Carbon Removal Customer: Discover how this startup secured a groundbreaking deal at $100/ton and what it means for the future of carbon credits.

• The Secret Behind Continuous Carbon Capture: Learn how Holocene’s liquid-based DAC technology is rewriting the rules with low energy costs and round-the-clock efficiency.

• From Climeworks to Holocene: Anca Timofte shares insider lessons from 12+ years in carbon capture and why she left a leading startup to build something even bigger.

Listen Time: Full Show 49:30 (no ads) | Free Preview 33:50

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In This Episode

In today’s episode of CleanTechies, we’re joined by Anca Timofte, the CEO and Founder of Holocene, a direct air capture (DAC) company revolutionizing carbon removal through a continuous-loop liquid system. With over a decade of experience in carbon capture—including being one of the first employees at Climeworks—Anca offers unparalleled insight into the challenges and opportunities of building climate solutions.

Anca walks us through:

• How Holocene’s novel organic chemistry enables a continuous carbon capture process that operates at low temperatures, drastically reducing energy costs.

• The differences between solid and liquid-based DAC technologies and why Holocene's system is a game-changer for scaling carbon removal.

• Holocene’s impressive milestones, including securing Google as a major customer and advancing pilot and demonstration projects.

• The lessons Anca has learned about building a startup, from co-founder alignment to hiring a mission-driven team in Knoxville, Tennessee.

• Why direct air capture is crucial, even in a decarbonized world, and how this industry can impact both legacy and ongoing emissions.

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📝 Show Notes:

Topics

(time stamps are accurate for the full episode and approximate for the free preview)

• 00:00 Intro

• 02:51 Understanding Direct Air Capture

• 05:54 Business Model and Customer Segments

• 08:54 Partnerships and Market Dynamics

• 11:48 Scaling and Project Deployment

• 15:06 Founding Story and Entrepreneurial Journey

• 24:52 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics

• 25:48 Adapting to Political Changes

• 27:09 Embracing Uncertainty in Entrepreneurship

• 28:30 Bipartisan Support for Carbon Capture

—(Free Version ends here)—

• 30:19 Public Perception of Carbon Capture

• 32:15 Survival vs. Success in Carbon Capture

• 34:01 Building a Team in Knoxville

• 39:30 Engaging with the Local Community

• 41:07 Hiring Lessons Learned

• 43:20 Balancing Parenthood and Entrepreneurship

• 45:13 Unexpected Challenges in the Startup Journey

• 46:31 Valuing Team Dynamics

• 47:26 Resources for Climate Tech Founders

• 48:36 Encouragement for Carbon Capture Startups

Links

• Learn more about Holocene and their mission to scale carbon removal.

• Read the DOE report on direct air capture technologies here.

• Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey.

• Follow Anca Timofte on LinkedIn.

• Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn

• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn

• Recommended Book: Horizon by Barry Lopez – A lyrical exploration of travel, nature, and climate.

• This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Highlights

• Continuous Carbon Capture: Holocene’s liquid-based system eliminates the interruptions seen in cartridge-based systems, allowing for seamless operation akin to a chemical production plant.

• Energy Efficiency: Operating at temperatures as low as 70°C, Holocene can tap into waste heat from industrial sources and data centers to power its systems.

• Partnership with Google: Holocene secured a landmark deal with Google outside of the Frontier Fund, selling carbon removal credits at the competitive price of $100/ton.

• Scaling Through Demonstration Projects: Following successful pilots, Holocene is engineering a 200-500x scale demonstration facility, aiming to advance toward full commercial operations.

Share Your Thoughts

Enjoyed this episode? Let us know what you think and who you’d like to hear from next. Email us at info@cleantechiespod.com.

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