The Octavia Carbon Story

Octavia Carbon is a Kenya-based startup developing Direct Air Carbon Capture (DACC) technology to remove CO2 from the atmosphere for permanent storage or industrial use. The company aims to disrupt the high cost of DACC by utilizing Kenya's natural endowments, specifically the high-porosity basaltic rock of the Rift Valley for storage and waste heat from geothermal power for energy. By the end of 2024, Octavia Carbon intends to produce at least one machine per day, reaching a capacity of approximately 40,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The company projects a cost per tonne of CO2 between $300 and $500, significantly lower than current global ranges of $775 to $1,200, positioning it as a potential global cost leader by mid-decade.

• Octavia Carbon is developing DACC machines with a scaling plan to produce at least one machine daily by the end of 2024, which would add approximately 40,000 tonnes of annual CO2 capture capacity to the global market. Initial machines will capture 5-10 tonnes of CO2 per year, while later versions will capture 100 tonnes per year.
• Kenya provides a strategic advantage for DACC due to the Rift Valley's high-porosity basaltic rock, which allows for the fastest and safest permanent CO2 storage via bonding with carbonic acid. Additionally, Kenya's grid is over 90% renewable (virtually 100% in Central Kenya), and the company can utilize low-grade waste heat from geothermal power, which accounts for 80-90% of DACC energy requirements.
• Octavia Carbon aims to become a global cost leader by mid-decade, projecting a price per tonne of CO2 between $300 and $500. This is substantially lower than current market prices, which range from $775 to $1,200 per tonne depending on technology and scale.
• The company's business model focuses on two primary paths for captured CO2: permanent storage in deep rock formations or sale to industrial users, such as the floriculture industry for greenhouse enrichment to increase plant photosynthesis and crop yields.

APA

TIMOTHYRADIER (2023). The Octavia Carbon Story. FSD Africa. https://fsdafrica.org/using-direct-air-carbon-capture-technology-to-address-emissions/

Chicago

TIMOTHYRADIER. The Octavia Carbon Story. FSD Africa, 2023. https://fsdafrica.org/using-direct-air-carbon-capture-technology-to-address-emissions/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=TIMOTHYRADIER |title=The Octavia Carbon Story |publisher=FSD Africa |date=9 August 2023 |url=https://fsdafrica.org/using-direct-air-carbon-capture-technology-to-address-emissions/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{timothyradier2023octavia, author = {TIMOTHYRADIER}, title = {{The Octavia Carbon Story}}, institution = {FSD Africa}, year = {2023}, month = aug, url = {https://fsdafrica.org/using-direct-air-carbon-capture-technology-to-address-emissions/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }