“At The Oxford Science Park, CyanoCapture uses altered algal genomes to grow high-metabolism strains of Synechococcus, a genus of cyanobacteria, better known as blue-green algae.
The start-up employs CRISPR-Cas12a to edit genes tied to carbon-fixing pathways that redirect carbon and use excess electrons created in the chloroplast. One of CyanoCapture’s approaches involves using excess electrons created during photosynthesis more efficiently. The start-up does this by splicing in more genetic pathways that can take advantage of the surplus chemical energy.
According to Stuart Reid, chief technology officer at CyanoCapture, the results are impressive. Their strains capture carbon dioxide twice as fast as a model cyanobacteria strain and three times as fast as other algal strains.
They’re energy efficient as well. While methods like DAC require 2,000 kW h of electricity per ton of CO2 captured, CyanoCapture’s strains work with a mere 350 kW h. They’re essentially self-sufficient and easily replicate themselves, which minimizes operating costs.
Even though CyanoCapture is still in the pilot phase, it has caught global attention, snagging the Shell New Energy Challenge award, an XPrize grant from the Musk Foundation, and grants from Innovate UK.”