Kenya’s Great Rift Valley Emerges as a Hub for Direct Air Capture Innovation
Kenya is rapidly positioning itself as a global leader in direct air capture (DAC) technology, attracting investment and fostering local talent in the burgeoning field of carbon removal. A new wave of entrepreneurial ventures, backed by international partnerships, is leveraging the country’s abundant renewable energy and skilled workforce to tackle climate change while simultaneously creating economic opportunities.
The potential for Kenya to become a significant player in the DAC space is rooted in a unique convergence of factors. “Climate change is disproportionately impacting this part of the world, but it’s also changing the rules of the game all over the world,” explained a senior official at Cella, a technology company involved in a pilot program in the Great Rift Valley known as Project Jacaranda. “This is also an opportunity to be entrepreneurial and creative in our thinking, because there are all of these assets that places like Kenya have.”
These assets include not only access to cheap and plentiful renewable energy sources, but also a young and highly educated workforce capable of supporting the development and operation of complex DAC infrastructure. Supporters of Kenyan DAC believe the industry could provide opportunities for the country’s approximately 6 million unemployed or underemployed young people.
Building a Green Industrial Future
The vision extends beyond simply removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. According to one industry advocate, the development of a DAC industry in Kenya will spur broader economic growth. “It’s not a one-off industry,” she stated, emphasizing the potential for job creation across multiple sectors. “Engineers will be needed to monitor the DAC facilities, and the additional demand for renewable power will create jobs in the energy sector, along with related services like water and hospitality.” She added that the necessary infrastructure development would benefit the country as a whole.
Octavia Carbon: From University Lab to Field Testing
On the outskirts of Nairobi, Octavia Carbon exemplifies this burgeoning innovation. Founded in 2022, the company has quickly moved from a prototype built in borrowed university lab space – and briefly, an apartment, much to the chagrin of neighbors – to a fully-fledged operation with over 40 engineers. In June, Octavia began field testing its technology in Gilgil, a town northwest of Nairobi.
The company’s origin story highlights the power of collaboration. CEO Martin Freimüller, an Austrian development consultant, connected with Duncan Kariuki, an engineering graduate from the University of Nairobi, through the OpenAir Collective, an online forum dedicated to carbon removal. Kariuki then introduced Freimüller to classmates Fiona Mugambi and Mike Bwondera, and together they built their first DAC prototype, affectionately named “Thursday” after its unveiling at a Nairobi Climate Network event.
Octavia’s rapid progress has attracted attention from high-profile figures, including King Charles III and Meg Whitman, the U.S. ambassador to Kenya. The company’s current DAC unit is a metal cylinder roughly the size of a washing machine, utilizing a chemical filter containing an amine, an organic compound derived from ammonia. Octavia has declined to disclose specific details about the filter’s internal arrangement, citing pending patent approval.
A Kenyan Mindset: “Impossible Until Kenya Does It”
The spirit of innovation at Octavia Carbon is palpable. Freimüller drew a parallel to the achievements of Kenyan marathon runners, particularly Eliud Kipchoge, who broke the two-hour marathon barrier in 2019. A mural of Kipchoge and his slogan, “No human is limited,” adorns the company’s headquarters. “It’s impossible, until Kenya does it,” Freimüller declared, encapsulating the ambitious mindset driving the country’s foray into DAC technology.
While Octavia Carbon is not an official partner in Project Jacaranda, the company’s vision aligns with the broader goal of establishing Kenya as a global hub for carbon removal. The convergence of entrepreneurial spirit, technological innovation, and a commitment to sustainable development positions Kenya to play a pivotal role in addressing the climate crisis and forging a new path toward a greener future.
