sources : https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/carbonblue-raises-10-million-expand-water-based-kagjc/

The maritime industry is under increasing regulatory and environmental pressure to decarbonize  not only at sea but also across its land-based infrastructure, including ports, terminals, and desalination facilities that support shipping operations. Coastal desalination plants, which are often co-located with ports or integrated into maritime hubs, consume vast amounts of energy and emit significant levels of CO₂ through both water processing and associated industrial activity. Traditional carbon capture methods are not designed for these tight settings, they’re space-intensive, chemically invasive, and difficult to retrofit into existing maritime infrastructure. For port operators, shipping companies, and coastal industries, this creates a critical bottleneck: how to meet carbon reduction targets without disrupting essential operations or inflating energy costs. 

CarbonBlue offers a maritime-ready, water-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology that integrates directly into existing water-intensive infrastructure including desalination plants located at or near ports. 

The founders of CarbonBlue are Dr. Dan Deviri and Iddo Tsur. Dr. Dan Deviri, who serves as the company’s CEO, brings a strong scientific background and vision for leveraging water-based processes to address global climate challenges. His expertise lies in developing innovative, scalable solutions that merge industrial efficiency with environmental restoration. Alongside him, Iddo Tsur, the company’s COO, contributes extensive experience in operations, business strategy, and scaling startups. Together, they established CarbonBlue in 2022 with the mission of transforming industrial water systems into powerful tools for carbon dioxide removal, aiming to create a future where industry actively contributes to reversing climate change rather than accelerating it.

CarbonBlue’s core product is a water-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology designed to integrate seamlessly with existing industrial water systems such as desalination plants, e-fuel production facilities, and other water-intensive operations. The system, often referred to as Direct Water Capture (AquaFix), extracts dissolved CO₂ from any water source while leaving the water’s chemistry unchanged, allowing it to naturally reabsorb more CO₂ from the atmosphere. The process yields pure CO₂, which can then be permanently sequestered or repurposed for industrial use. In addition, CarbonBlue has developed EcoLime, a complementary low-emission lime production process powered by renewable energy, which supports the closed-loop system and reduces reliance on conventional high-emission lime. Together, these innovations not only remove significant amounts of CO₂ but also deliver co-benefits such as reduced energy consumption, lower operational costs, and enhanced efficiency demonstrated in pilot projects where desalination plants achieved up to 25% energy savings while capturing tens of thousands of tons of CO₂ annually.

In its July 2024 Seed funding round, CarbonBlue successfully raised US $10 million, The investment combined approximately US $7 million in equity financing with an additional US $3 million via a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity). This capital injection is aimed at scaling CarbonBlue’s pioneering water-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology, accelerating pilot projects such as its desalination plant integrations, and expanding its global deployment strategy. The round was led by Ibex Investors, a U.S.-based venture capital firm, and Fresh Fund, based in Israel. The round also included participation from strategic corporate investors, notably ENGIE New Ventures the innovation and investment arm of French energy giant ENGIE and ZIM Ventures, the corporate venture capital division of Israeli shipping conglomerate ZIM Integrated Shipping Services. Additionally, several earlier-stage Israeli VC backers reaffirmed their support, including Jibe Ventures, MoreVC, and Secret Chord Ventures

Case Study: Midway Pilot Initiative

In July 2025, CarbonBlue launched the Midway Project, a pioneering pilot that integrates carbon removal directly into a desalination plant. This electrochemical process not only removes CO₂ from water, but simultaneously reduces the energy requirements and overall cost of desalination offering a compelling demonstration of industrial and environmental co-benefits. 

This underscores CarbonBlue’s strategy: leveraging existing water-intensive infrastructure to create scalable, climate-positive outcomes.

Final Thoughts

CarbonBlue is at the forefront of climate-tech innovation, offering a practical, scalable solution for carbon dioxide removal through its water-based technology. With strong leadership, strategic investor support from both Israeli and global corporate VCs, and a functioning pilot project in the desalination sector, CarbonBlue is proving that decarbonization can be deeply integrated into industrial systems unlocking dual benefits of climate action and operational efficiency. Their continued progress signals a viable path toward a sustainable, carbon-negative future.

References

1. CarbonBlue Official Website – Company Overview & Technology
   https://carbonblue.cc
2. Startup Nation Central – CarbonBlue Company Page
   https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/carbonblue
3. ESG Today – Cleantech Startup CarbonBlue Raises $10 Million to Scale Up Water-Based CO₂ Removal Technology
   https://www.esgtoday.com/cleantech-startup-carbonblue-raises-10-million-to-scale-up-water-based-co2-removal-technology
4. Calcalist Tech – CarbonBlue Raises $10 Million to Expand Groundbreaking CO₂ Removal Technology
   https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rkq4uynuc
5. Nasdaq – CarbonBlue Secures $10 Million to Expand Groundbreaking CO₂ Removal Technology
   https://www.nasdaq.com/press-release/carbonblue-secures-10m-expand-groundbreaking-co2-removal-technology-2024-07-22
6. Finsmes – CarbonBlue Raises $10M in Funding
   https://www.finsmes.com/2024/07/carbonblue-raises-10m-in-funding.html
7. PitchBook – CarbonBlue Company Profile & Funding
   https://pitchbook.com/profiles/company/513439-57

Contributor : Dyah Ayuning Tyas
Reviewer : Imam Buchari, David Ratner