Membrane carbon capture technology has been demonstrated at a pilot facility in Grimsby, UK, where industrial carbon capture modules were tested using real-time CO₂ monitoring to verify capture efficiency.
The demonstration was organised by Cool Planet Technologies, a developer of modular carbon capture systems, in collaboration with measurement technology company Vaisala.
Visitors were able to observe real-time carbon dioxide measurements before and after capture using Vaisala’s inline CO₂ probes, which continuously monitor gas concentrations within the capture process.
The event aimed to demonstrate the performance of the carbon capture system and verify operational data generated by the pilot plant.
Pilot plant tests verify membrane carbon capture technology performance
The Grimsby pilot plant was designed to test the efficiency of Cool Planet Technologies’ modular carbon capture system using membrane-based separation technology.
The system is based on PolyActive™ membrane technology originally developed at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon research institute in Germany. The technology separates carbon dioxide from industrial gas streams using specialised membranes rather than chemical solvents.
According to the companies involved, early system models predicted capture performance using simulation tools based on single-gas permeation data. Results from pilot testing at the Grimsby site were reported to be within approximately 1% of predicted capture efficiency.
The facility currently operates with two carbon capture modules installed in series. At this configuration, the pilot plant can capture up to 37,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
Measurement probes installed at multiple points in the process monitor carbon dioxide concentrations in the incoming gas stream, during separation, and within the resulting gas outputs. The system logs data every second to calculate capture efficiency in real time.
Carbon capture technologies for hard-to-abate industries
Technologies such as membrane carbon capture technology are being explored as potential decarbonisation solutions for sectors where emissions are difficult to eliminate.
Industries such as cement, steel, lime production and waste-to-energy processes generate significant process emissions that cannot easily be reduced through electrification or renewable energy alone.
Carbon capture systems aim to separate carbon dioxide from industrial gas streams before it is released into the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ can then be purified, liquefied, transported or stored depending on the application.
Membrane-based approaches offer an alternative to solvent-based carbon capture methods, potentially reducing chemical use and enabling modular deployment in industrial settings.
Cool Planet Technologies was founded in 2019 to commercialise membrane-based carbon capture technology and develop modular systems that can be deployed across industrial facilities.
Next phase: demonstration plant in Germany
The company has also begun assembling a larger demonstration plant at the Höver cement facility operated by Holcim.
The installation is designed to capture approximately 10,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and is expected to begin operations in the second quarter of 2026.
The project will test the operational performance and economic viability of the carbon capture technology over a 12-month period. According to the companies involved, the system will target carbon dioxide recovery rates of up to 95%.
Results from the project will inform potential future developments aimed at capturing a much larger share of emissions from industrial cement production.
Further coverage of emerging decarbonisation technologies can be found in the Technology & Innovation section of Climate Global News.
