In the race against climate change, innovation is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. As global CO₂ emissions continue to rise at an alarming rate, the need for scalable, sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. Enter eChemicles, a Hungarian-based climate tech company that is redefining industrial decarbonization through its pioneering CO₂ conversion technology.

Earlier this year, eChemicles successfully completed the first measurement campaign of the world’s first containerized low-temperature CO₂ electrolyser system, a modular unit capable of converting carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide (CO)—a valuable feedstock for the chemical industry—using only green electricity.

“This first successful campaign is a critical validation of our technology,” said Dr. Csaba Janáky, CEO of eChemicles. “We’ve demonstrated that CO₂ can be efficiently converted into valuable platform chemicals, providing industries with a viable path toward a sustainable future.”

A Technological Leap Toward Industrial Sustainability

The proprietary system, developed over eight years of research and scaled from an 8 cm² to a 2500 cm² active surface area, is optimized for CO production. This compound is essential in manufacturing plastics, acetic acid, and synthetic fuels, and is currently produced from fossil sources with high environmental costs—up to 3 tons of CO₂ equivalent per ton of CO.

eChemicles’ solution offers a clean alternative: direct electrochemical conversion of CO₂ powered by renewable energy. Its containerized design allows seamless integration into existing industrial infrastructures, making it a practical tool for sectors like chemicals, steel, and fuels.

The technology has now reached Technology Readiness Level 6 (TRL6), meaning it has been demonstrated in a relevant environment and is ready for pilot-scale deployment.

“It’s about giving industries practical tools to reduce their emissions without sacrificing operational efficiency,” said Dr. Richard Jones, Board Member.

Unique Selling Proposition (USP)

What sets eChemicles apart is its modular, scalable, and renewables-compatible CO₂ conversion system, which enables decentralized deployment across industrial sites. Unlike traditional carbon capture methods that focus solely on storage, eChemicles transforms CO₂ into marketable chemical products, creating a circular carbon economy. The system’s low-temperature operation and compact footprint make it uniquely suited for retrofitting into existing facilities—offering a fast-track to decarbonization without costly infrastructure overhauls.

Strategic Partnerships and Market Readiness

The company’s momentum is backed by strategic collaborations, including a partnership with Bosch Thin Metal Technologies to accelerate industrialization and commercialization. eChemicles is also working with a leading gas industry player, investment groups, and potential first buyers. Their innovation has been recognized by Uplink – World Economic Forum, further validating its global relevance.

In 2025, eChemicles completed its first comprehensive industrial feasibility study for a major international oil company, detailing the design and implementation of a large-scale CO₂ electrolyser plant. Plans are underway for pilot testing in industrial environments by 2026, with a new manufacturing and office facility set to open in Szeged by 2027—creating up to 50 new jobs.

A key element of the scale-up strategy is the collaboration with K1-MET, an Austrian research center specializing in metallurgical process development. This partnership provides a unique opportunity to test eChemicles’ containerized system in real industrial environments, particularly within the steel sector. If successful, it could serve as a gateway to a greener steel industry, where CO₂ is not just captured but transformed into valuable inputs—paving the way for a circular, low-emission production model.

The Bigger Picture: CO₂ Conversion as a Climate Imperative

Converting CO₂ into valuable chemicals is not just a technological feat—it’s a climate imperative. While natural processes like photosynthesis help absorb CO₂, they are insufficient to counterbalance human-induced emissions. Technologies like eChemicles’ are designed to be safe to nature, enabling sustainability without compromising environmental integrity.

“We’re not just talking about a prototype—we’re laying the groundwork for a product that will make a tangible impact on industrial decarbonization,” said Alex Drijver, Board Member.

As the EU targets a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, solutions like eChemicles’ offer a realistic path forward. Their innovation is not only scalable and market-ready—it’s a beacon of hope in the global effort to mitigate climate change.