Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

Nellie is a modular, scalable direct air (DAC), and point source carbon capture system that utilises an evolutionary microalgae photobioreactor (PBR) and proprietary processing methods to capture and permanently sequester CO2. This two-step process involves generating organic biomass via the capture technology and sequestering carbon during processing. 

The resulting product can be securely stored underground or as products which create adjacent revenue streams including fuel, feed and fertiliser, ensuring over 1000 years of permanence. 

Nellie's solution addresses global policy changes and societal responsibilities tied to climate change, providing a lasting remedy for carbon removal. Nellie employs a patent-pending growth medium to enhance microalgae flocculation, and increases the natural photosynthetic processes of microalgae to capture and sequester CO2. 

Our proprietary methods mean we offer a more efficient growth mechanism than the state-of-the-art and allow the system to offer commercially viable carbon capture at a scale.

Our technology is designed to be fully modular and scalable to meet the needs of stakeholders and to ensure maximum carbon capture potential within a small physical footprint.

We began in February 2022 out of the urgent global need to develop immediate and accessible climate change solutions in the form of carbon dioxide removal technology, which is part of the UK government strategy for achieving net zero by 2050. Since then we have been awarded several rounds of funding which have seen the R&D and deployment of our initial prototype, the invention of our patent-pending additive profiles, and the build of our mobile demonstrator unit (MDAC). We have also presented our technology to international audiences and built relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Removes/stores GHGs (e.g., projects that capture, sequester, or otherwise enhance the "sinks" that accumulate and store GHGs)

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Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Nellie has a small team of which 40% is female and the majority of which are LGBT.

Nellie operates a strict inclusion policy recruiting regardless of gender, race, sexuality or physical ability. 

The CleanTech sector in Wales is small and as Nellie grows it will create new skilled full-time jobs in an area that does not otherwise have the opportunity to access this growing market. 

Nellie has also worked with Kijani, a Kenyan research organisation, which meant that communities in sub Saharan Africa were able to access the burgeoning CDR markets as well as investigate new energy and food security channels.

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Mission Statement:

Nellie is based in Mid Wales, UK at Aberinnovation ‚ a research and development campus which is part of Aberystwyth University. 

Our R&D is carried out at Aberinnovation and we envisage our CDR system deployment in Wales, UK to take advantage of the existing industrial infrastructure and legacy skill sets. 

That being said, our customers can be located anywhere in the world and we are in conversations with interested companies and potential investors internationally and aim to make additional wide-reaching connections.

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