LanzaTech Global, Inc., a company specializing in carbon recycling, has secured $3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This significant funding, awarded through the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM), supports LanzaTech’s latest project, ADAPT.
With this grant, LanzaTech aims to convert waste CO₂ into isopropanol, a sustainable, in-demand chemical with everyday applications.
Project ADAPT, short for “Accelerating Decarbonization via Advanced Production Technologies,” will use this support to advance the company’s CO₂ recycling technology. The DOE’s funding is part of a more extensive $29 million program to promote carbon management.
The Biden Administration’s aggressive climate agenda seeks a carbon-neutral power sector by 2035 and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The DOE hopes to accelerate this transformation by investing in companies like LanzaTech.
LanzaTech has been a carbon capture and recycling industry leader for years. With its innovative technology, the company captures CO₂ generated from industrial processes. Instead of releasing it into the atmosphere, LanzaTech recycles this waste CO₂, repurposing it as a valuable input for products we use every day.
LanzaTech’s focus with Project ADAPT is on converting CO₂ into isopropanol, a common alcohol used in cleaning agents, disinfectants, and other everyday products. Beyond its widespread uses, isopropanol is a building block for propylene production, which is crucial in manufacturing packaging, medical supplies, and automotive parts.
The demand for propylene is high, and it’s expected to reach 180 million tons by 2030, valued at approximately $150 billion. Producing isopropanol from CO₂ rather than fossil resources could cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 200%.
CEO Dr. Jennifer Holmgren expressed her excitement about the project. “We are thrilled to receive this support from the U.S. Department of Energy,” she said. “CO₂ is an essential feedstock of today and the future,” Holmgren added, emphasizing the importance of carbon reuse.
Project ADAPT builds on LanzaTech’s current pilot platform for CO₂ conversion. The DOE funding will help improve critical areas of the platform to boost efficiency and scalability. LanzaTech has structured Project ADAPT around three primary goals.
First, the company aims to increase feedstock versatility. This improvement will allow the platform to process a broader range of gas mixes that contain CO₂. LanzaTech’s technology can accommodate various industrial gas sources by expanding feedstock options.
Second, LanzaTech will focus on optimizing microbial strains to improve conversion efficiency. The company uses genetically engineered microbes to produce isopropanol from CO₂. Project ADAPT will refine these strains using advanced gene-editing techniques for better yield and performance.
Third, LanzaTech plans to make the process more cost-effective and efficient overall. Carbon recycling must be affordable and robust to be viable at a commercial scale. Project ADAPT will address both by refining its end-to-end technology.
With these goals, Project ADAPT intends to transform waste CO₂ into a valuable resource. This shift from waste to value creates a sustainable pathway to chemical production. Ultimately, LanzaTech envisions a future where recycling CO₂ is a mainstream industry practice.
The DOE’s $3 million funding covers most of Project ADAPT’s estimated $3.8 million cost. LanzaTech will contribute approximately $0.8 million to complete the total project funding. The company will account for this project revenue as part of its Joint Development Agreement and Contract Research segments.
LanzaTech expects most of the project’s revenue to enhance its financial performance in 2025 and 2026. DOE funding allows LanzaTech to pursue Project ADAPT without taking on significant debt. This grant enables the company to expand its technology while keeping costs manageable.
The project holds promise not just for LanzaTech but also for the broader economy. By producing isopropanol from CO₂, LanzaTech could set a new standard for sustainable chemical manufacturing. Project ADAPT’s potential success could encourage other companies to adopt similar practices, driving the market toward greener solutions.
The DOE’s support for LanzaTech reflects a growing trend of partnerships between government agencies and private industry. Such collaborations are crucial in achieving climate goals and reducing emissions on a large scale. Public funding enables companies to take on ambitious projects that might otherwise be too costly or risky.
Project ADAPT also has strategic importance beyond LanzaTech’s immediate goals. Its success could help the DOE identify effective carbon capture and utilization pathways. The results from this project inform future investments in similar technologies across the industry.
As global demand for sustainable products rises by reusing waste CO₂ instead of extracting virgin fossil carbon, LanzaTech aligns with consumer preferences for eco-friendly products. This preference is extreme in packaging, medical supplies, and automotive manufacturing.
The support from FECM demonstrates the DOE’s confidence in LanzaTech’s vision and technology. The company has previously collaborated with major corporations such as ArcelorMittal, Zara, and Coty. These partnerships highlight the broad appeal and applicability of LanzaTech’s carbon recycling technology.
Completing Project ADAPT would provide critical data on the economic and technical feasibility of CO₂-based production. If successful, LanzaTech could help usher in a new era of carbon recycling across multiple industries. By repurposing waste CO₂, LanzaTech could transform how companies approach sustainability.
However, the path forward has its challenges. LanzaTech acknowledges that timing delays, market adoption issues, and feedstock costs could affect the project. In addition, broader economic conditions like inflation and supply chain disruptions could pose risks.
LanzaTech’s commitment to transparency means the company will keep stakeholders informed as the project progresses. LanzaTech aims to build trust and manage expectations by regularly updating investors and partners. Clear communication will be vital in navigating any challenges that arise.
While Project ADAPT is ambitious, its potential benefits are equally substantial. If LanzaTech meets its goals, the project could shift how industries manage carbon. Recycling CO₂ into everyday products could become the new norm.
Through Project ADAPT, LanzaTech seeks to prove that waste CO₂ isn’t just a problem to be managed. Instead, it’s a resource with the potential to fuel sustainable growth. The DOE’s investment in LanzaTech marks a step toward a future where carbon recycling is standard practice.
The DOE’s funding is not just financial support; it’s a vote of confidence in LanzaTech’s mission. By backing Project ADAPT, the DOE underscores the importance of finding alternatives to fossil fuels. This grant enables LanzaTech to push the boundaries of what’s possible with CO₂ recycling.