He cleaned a lagoon… with bubbles

Hello everyone! This is the second episode of series about Direct Air Capture describing Technology & Timing, Business Model & Scability (2nd post here) and finally the players (coming soon)Sponsor this newsletter or one of my LinkedIn posts.Be a guest on my podcast, book me for a conference, or something else? Work with Reactor.Listen to the podcast, watch the YouTube channel, the TikTok and the InstagramJoin the free Reactor community on WhatsApp: deep tech and climate-tech entrepreneurs, events, and discussions.Follow me on LinkedInCapturing carbon from thin air costs $600–$1,000 per ton. So… how do direct air capture companies stay alive? In this upbeat explainer we unpack the surprisingly clever “money stack” behind DAC: corporate offtakes, U.S. tax credits (45Q), California fuel credits (LCFS), and a sprinkle of product sales. We also break down unit economics with simple math, profile the leading players, and get honest about risks (policy, power, MRV, capex).If you’ve ever wondered who actually pays for carbon removal—and why smart companies like Microsoft or Amazon sign giant contracts—this one’s for you.What you’ll learnWhy DAC costs $600–$1,000/t today—and who bridges the gapThe revenue stack: corporate offtakes, 45Q tax credits, LCFS, productsQuick math: $700/t cost – $180 (45Q) = $520/t to coverThe main business archetypes (Climeworks, 1PointFive/Occidental, Heirloom, CarbonCapture)Real risks: policy swings, clean power access, MRV trust, big capexHow early buyers overpay on purpose to push costs down—like early solar & windMentioned / ResourcesClimeworks technology & credits → https://climeworks.com/direct-air-capture1PointFive / Occidental STRATOS overview → https://www.1pointfive.com/Heirloom mineral looping explainer → https://www.heirloomcarbon.com/CarbonCapture modular approach / Project Bison → https://www.carboncapture.com/U.S. 45Q (IRS/DOE overview) → https://carboncapturecoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/45Q-primer-Carbon-Capture-Coalition.pdfCalifornia LCFS (program info) → https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/6308#:~:text=California's%20Low%20Carbon%20Fuel%20Standard,in%20the%20state%20through%202030.Frontier advanced market commitments (Stripe coalition) → https://frontierclimate.com/Key takeawaysDAC firms stack revenues (offtakes + policy + sometimes products).Early credits sell at $500–$800/t to fund learning curves.Same skeleton, different strategies: brand, integration, minerals, modular.Watch the contracts, costs, and kilowatts—that’s where winners emerge.Support the show

He cleaned a lagoon… with bubbles Meet Marino Morikawa, a Peruvian nanoscientist.When his father called to say the lagoon of his childhood—El Cascajo—had become a dump, Marino left his lab in Japan and flew home.Using ultra-fine nanobubbles (≈50–100 nm) made with hardware-store parts, he built a natural, chemical-free system that traps pollutants and bacteria:Inject nanobubbles into the waterAs they rise slowly, their ionic charge attracts contaminantsBiofilters with native microorganisms trap and break them down—no chemicals, no disruption to the ecosystemResults:✔️ In 13 months, the water was drinkable again✔️ In 3 years, migratory birds returnedToday, Marino’s mission:💧 Ultra-effective, low-cost decontamination with zero chemicals🌍 Active projects at Lake Titicaca and desert oases affected by wastewater from 1.5M+ people🌱 100 ecosystems restored by 2030, in partnership with local communitiesThis is deep climate tech in action: simple physics, local biology, real impact.Would you deploy this in your city? Credit Ecomedy for the storySupport the show

This city ski slope heats and powers 150,000 people—by burning their trash.It sits on top of Copenhagen’s waste-to-energy plant, CopenHill.In the late 2000s, the city wanted to shut down coal but still had 440,000 tons of non-recyclable waste to deal with every year.Instead of burying or exporting it, they turned it into energy.The challenge: build an incinerator that’s clean, efficient, and embraced by locals.Danish architects BIG—Bjarke Ingels Group proposed something radical: make it visible, fun, educational, and a true public place.Enter CopenHill (opened 2017): a sharp, industrial building with high-performance filters to limit emissions.On the roof: a 400 m ski slope, an 85 m climbing wall, hiking trails, and a 10,000 m² green roof.It reflects Copenhagen’s ambition to lead on urban sustainability.CopenHill doesn’t hide waste. It shows it, treats it, and transforms it.Today, CopenHill =♻️ 440,000 tons of waste transformed each year🏠 Heat & power for 150,000 residents🌱 A green roof, sports, and public space on top of an industrial plantWould you ski on a power plant?#climatetech #wastetoenergy #urbaninnovation #CopenHill #Copenhagen #BIG #architecture #sustainability #deeptech #ReactorSupport the show

In Georgetown (USA), a full 3D-printed neighborhood is coming online—fast. Not a concept render: real homes, printed on-site, then finished with solar + smart energy controls.Why it mattersSpeed: printed in about 3 weeks for the shell phaseLess waste: additive construction = minimal material offcutsEnergy positive potential: solar panels + smart thermostats to shrink bills and emissionsRepeatable: scalable playbook for resilient, affordable housingClimate & circularity3D printing cuts concrete use via optimized forms, reduces truck rolls, and accelerates near-zero waste builds. Pair with low-carbon mixes and rooftop PV to push toward net-positive neighborhoods.Open questions for buildersWhat’s the embodied carbon vs. traditional builds?Can we swap to low-carbon cement or geopolymer mixes at scale?How do we finance community-level storage to bank daytime solar?🔔 Subscribe to Reactor for deeptech that scales climate impact.💬 Would you live in a printed home? Tell us why—or what would make you say yes.Support the show

These giant meshes turn fog into drinking water—no pumps, no power. It’s CloudFisher, a system developed by the German NGO WasserStiftung that captures airborne moisture with technical plastic nets stretched into the wind.How it worksZero energy: wind + fog, no electricity requiredDurable & recyclable: engineered to resist winds up to 120 km/hPotable by design: collected water is filtered to WHO standards, then routed to public fountains or cisternsWhy it mattersIn Morocco’s Anti-Atlas, a 1,674 m² installation produces ~36,800 L/day for 1,300 people across 5 villagesEach m² of net can harvest up to 22 L/day in foggy conditionsIt taps the sky—not aquifers—so it doesn’t disrupt local water cyclesOld wisdom, modern scaleInspired by centuries-old Andean and Amazigh practices of dew and fog collection—now upgraded with modern materials and deployment at community scale. Already active in 5+ countries.If you’re building in climate & water:What would it take to pilot this in your region?Could schools, clinics, or shelters be first beneficiaries?Pairing with storage, UV, or remote monitoring—who’s in?🎥 Credit: EcoMedy for the field footage.🔔 Subscribe to Reactor for more deeptech that drives real-world sustainability.💬 Comment where you’d deploy CloudFisher next, and tag a partner we should talk to. Support the show

👋 Imagine a giant vacuum cleaner — but instead of dust, it’s pulling carbon dioxide straight out of the sky.It’s called Direct Air Capture (DAC), and it’s no longer science fiction. Real plants are running today in Iceland, Texas, and California.In this episode of Reactor, we break down:🌬️ How Direct Air Capture actually works — step by step🧪 The four main DAC technologies (solids, liquids, minerals, electrochemicals)⚡ Why DAC is only possible now (cheap renewables, better materials, policy, corporate buyers)📉 The scalability challenge — costs, energy appetite, storage, and risks🌍 Where the first plants are already running (Climeworks, Heirloom, 1PointFive)This is Part 1 of a 3-part DAC series:1️⃣ How DAC Works (and Why Now) ← this video2️⃣ How DAC Companies Make Money (coming soon)3️⃣ The DAC Field Guide: Startups & Scaleups--- 🔑 Key TakeawaysDAC is industrial chemistry, not magic.It’s expensive today ($600–$1,200/ton) but scaling fast.Cheap clean energy + policy support make it viable in 2025.Corporates like Microsoft, JPMorgan, and Amazon are already buying DAC credits.--- 📚 Resources & Links👉 Climeworks Mammoth plant: https://climeworks.com/technology👉 Carbon Engineering explainer: [https://carbonengineering.com/our-tec...](https://carbonengineering.com/our-tec...)👉 Heirloom DAC tech: https://heirloomcarbon.com/technology👉 Carbfix CO₂ mineralization: [https://www.carbfix.com/how-it-works](Support the show

💧☀️ In Australia, 1 trillion litres of water vanish every year — lost to evaporation.But what if the solution was simple… and powerful?Floating solar panels are changing the game.They shade reservoirs, cutting water evaporation by up to 50%, *while also generating clean electricity*. Even better, the cool water underneath helps the panels work more efficiently than land-based solar farms.That means:✅ Saving billions of litres of water every year✅ Powering homes, farms, and even hydrogen facilities✅ Fighting drought and climate change at the same timeFrom one brilliant idea comes two big solutions: more water + more clean energy.Because sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated. It just needs the right ideas in the right places. 🌍✨---🔔 Subscribe for more stories on deeptech & climate tech innovations!#FloatingSolar #CleanEnergy #Australia #ClimateTech #WaterInnovation #SustainabilitySupport the show

From the ice rink to the fight against climate change.Brent Story once wore the jersey for Team Canada in hockey. Now he’s leading EmitiQ — a company making sustainability simpler for businesses around the world.Instead of endless reports and confusing rules, EmitiQ helps companies:✔️ Measure emissions automatically✔️ Follow climate rules correctly✔️ Work with suppliers to cut carbon at the sourceBecause climate action shouldn’t be complicated — it should be possible.👉 Watch how one athlete turned innovator is making climate action simple.emitiq.com#ClimateTech #Sustainability #DeepTech #StorytellingSupport the show

Are you building cutting-edge tech… but struggling to land your first customers?This video is for YOU.Whether you’re in deeptech, climate tech, or any science-based venture, I’ll walk you through 6 actionable sales strategies to help you go from prototype to paying customers — faster.👇 What we’ll cover:0:00 Intro — Why deeptech sales are hard1:50 Tip 1: Founder-Led Sales from Day One7:15 Tip 2: Sell the Vision, Not the Features13:50 Tip 3: Evangelize Your Mission Every Day19:35 Tip 4: Track Your Sales Funnel Like a Scientist25:20 Tip 5: Prospect Daily – Never Stop Filling the Funnel31:00 Tip 6: Embrace the CEO Role – Sell, Don’t Build37:00 Bonus Q&A & Action Plan🧠 What you’ll learn:How to sell your tech before it’s even readyWhy YOU (the founder) need to be the first salespersonHow to get customers excited about a complex productWhat metrics to track (and how) to close more dealsWhy consistency in outreach is more important than perfectionWhen to stop building and start selling💥 Who this is for:Deeptech startup foundersClimate tech entrepreneursAcademic spinoutsTechnical CEOs learning to sellFounders stuck at zero revenue🧪 Why me?I’ve launched a deeptech company, led a startup accelerator, and coached dozens of founders through early sales and survival. I’ve made every mistake so you don’t have to. This is the playbook I wish I had 10 years ago.📌 Subscribe to REACTOR for more content like this:   / @reactor-podcast  📬 Get the free newsletter:https://reactortech.substack.com/📸 Follow on Instagram & TikTok for daily stories:  / reactortechmedia    / reactorpodcast  #deeptech #climatetech #startups #b2bsales Support the show

What if tomorrow’s clean energy came from yesterday’s nuclear waste? In this episode, we explore Hexana, a French deep tech startup developing a next-generation small modular reactor (SMR) designed to decarbonize heavy industries like steel, chemicals, and even green hydrogen production.Hexana’s sodium-cooled fast reactor doesn’t just generate high-temperature heat and clean electricity—it also burns nuclear waste, including depleted uranium and recycled plutonium, dramatically reducing high-level waste while extracting far more energy. Their SMR design revives France’s proven Phoenix and Superphénix technology in a modular, factory-scalable form, with a smart twist: a built-in thermal battery to store heat and balance grid or industrial demand.Founded in 2023 as a spinout from France’s CEA atomic research lab, Hexana’s team of 40 engineers is bringing decades of nuclear expertise to life in a product that could fundamentally reshape how industry is powered.Tune in to discover how Hexana plans to turn legacy waste into a low-carbon, high-impact energy source—and why this isn’t just sci-fi, but a credible clean energy contender.Support the show