Svante Technologies, a Canadian carbon capture company, has launched the world’s first commercial-scale gigafactory for carbon capture filters. This is a big step in the fight against climate change.
Located in Burnaby, British Columbia, the facility officially opened in May 2025. The factory will help speed up the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies by making the production of carbon filters faster and more cost-effective.
With rising global emissions and increased focus on net-zero goals, Svante’s new plant offers a timely solution. The gigafactory is built to capture millions of tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) every year. It helps industries cut their carbon footprint and meet regulations. As the carbon capture market continues to grow, the facility could help change how industries respond to climate change.
Scaling Up: Inside the Burnaby Gigafactory
The 140,000-square-foot facility, named the Redwood City Gigafactory, is the first of its kind. Svante makes solid sorbent filters. These filters trap CO₂ from factories and even from the air. These filters are then integrated into carbon capture systems used in sectors such as cement, steel, hydrogen, and power generation.
Svante’s filter technology relies on a material called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). These materials are known for their high surface area and ability to trap gas molecules like CO₂.
Compared to traditional systems, Svante’s filters are lighter, more compact, and faster to produce. They need less energy to regenerate. This leads to lower costs and fewer emissions during operation.
The facility can produce filter modules to capture up to 10 million tonnes of CO₂ each year, according to company estimates. That’s roughly the equivalent of taking over 2 million gasoline-powered cars off the road each year.
The Redwood factory is designed for rapid manufacturing and can scale up production as demand grows. The factory uses automation and digital tools. It also monitors data to boost quality control and cut waste.
Partnerships and Financial Support Fuel Growth
The construction and launch of the gigafactory would not have been possible without strong public and private backing. Svante raised $318 million in total since 2007, including a major $145 million Series E fundraising round in 2022.
Investors include: Chevron New Energies, United Airlines Ventures, Samsung Engineering & Construction, Temasek, GE Vernova, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
In addition to private investment, the Government of Canada contributed CA$25 million through its Strategic Innovation Fund. This funding sped up factory construction. It also shows Canada’s commitment to leading in carbon management technologies.
Beyond financing, Svante is also working with several partners to expand its reach. Here are some of their major partnerships:
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Samsung E&A signed a joint development agreement to build skid-mounted modular carbon capture plants.
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Climeworks, a direct air capture company, is using Svante filters for its next-generation CO₂ removal systems.
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Tenaska, a U.S. energy firm, is working with Svante to develop end-to-end CCS projects that include capture, transportation, and storage of CO₂.
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BASF signed a commercial agreement to supply Svante with CALF-20, an advanced MOF sorbent used in its filter systems.
These partnerships lower project risk, simplify deployment, and encourage CCS technology use in various sectors.
Market Drivers and Industry Demand
Demand for carbon capture technology is growing rapidly. According to BloombergNEF, the global market for carbon capture and removal could reach $100 billion by 2030. This growth comes from stricter climate rules, net-zero goals, and rising investment in clean tech.
- If all the planned carbon capture projects are built and running by 2030, they could remove around 279 million tons of CO₂ a year—still just 0.6% of the emissions the world produces today.
For many industries—especially heavy emitters like cement, steel, and oil refining—carbon capture is one of the few practical solutions to reduce emissions. These sectors usually have few choices for using renewable energy. They need solutions that fit into their current infrastructure.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) states that to stay on track for net-zero emissions by 2050, the world will need to capture over 1.2 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year by 2030. Today, only about 50 million tonnes are captured annually.
Facilities like Svante’s gigafactory are crucial to scaling up the supply chain and meeting this growing need.
In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act has also increased interest in carbon capture. The law boosts the value of the 45Q tax credit to $85 per tonne of CO₂ captured and stored. This financial support has made projects more attractive to investors and energy companies.
Building a Carbon Capture Economy
The launch of Svante’s gigafactory is more than a milestone for the company—it signals a shift in how carbon capture solutions can be delivered. Svante focuses on mass production, modular systems, and global partnerships. This approach aims to make carbon capture cheaper, faster, and more scalable.
CEO Claude Letourneau remarked:
“We’re also proud to launch this transformative manufacturing facility in Canada, which allows us to bring the supply chain to our shores and bring carbon management solutions closer to the needs of emitting industries in North America.”
Also, Svante’s method helps create a carbon market. Here, captured emissions become tradable carbon credits. As carbon pricing rises, expected to exceed $50 per tonne in some markets by 2026, industries may invest more in carbon removal for the long term.
The Redwood facility’s success could lead to new ways to use carbon. Captured CO₂ might be turned into fuels, building materials, or other products. This circular economy model can help industries not only reduce their footprint but also find new revenue streams.
Laying the Foundation for a Cleaner Future
Svante Technologies’ new gigafactory marks a major development in the carbon capture industry. As countries race to meet climate goals, scalable solutions like Svante’s are becoming essential. The Burnaby plant will focus on innovation, teamwork, and quick production. It will be vital in cutting industrial emissions.
By combining advanced materials with modern manufacturing, Svante is helping to make carbon capture more practical and affordable. Its efforts contribute to a growing movement to reduce global emissions and move toward a cleaner, more sustainable economy.
