The Horticoop investment cooperative has invested in Skytree, a business that focuses on innovative technology to capture CO2 from the air using so-called Direct Air Capture technology. In so doing, Horticoop will be contributing to the realization of a solution to a crucial issue within the industry.
The greenhouse horticultural sector is facing a complex challenge with regard to the energy transition, which it is hoped will lead to a reduction of CO2 emissions. If we are to realize a climate-neutral greenhouse horticultural sector without using natural gas, other sources will need to be found for the CO2 that is required for our cultures; this is estimated at more than 2.5 Mton. Currently, about 0.6 Mton of that CO2 is provided through the OCAP network or in fluid form supplied in trucks, but delivery is not always reliable. CO2 capture from the air is being considered to guarantee a stable supply of the CO2 required for the growing of horticultural crops without detracting from the ongoing sustainability process of the industry.
The basis for Skytree's technology was laid years ago at ESA (European Space Agency) in Noordwijk and has been further developed by Skytree since 2014 for practical applications such as greenhouse horticulture. Steven van Nieuwenhuijzen, CEO at Horticoop: 'If we are to grow greenhouse crops in a more sustainable manner, it is essential that CO2 is obtained from sources other than the combustion of natural gas. Skytree is making a success of direct air capture with its promising technology, and as such, it is a business in this field with plenty of potential. By investing in Skytree, Horticoop will be closely involved in this crucial area of development, so this is a logical and highly desirable extension of the portfolio of our investment cooperative'.
"We are the first climate tech company supporting food security through the deployment of DAC technology, enabling businesses to transition away from fossil fuel-based CO2 supply," said Rob van Straten, CEO of Skytree. "Not only can we provide a cleaner source of CO2 for greenhouses that use it for their farms, but our onsite solutions also enable increased productivity in farms that currently cannot access or don't use CO2."
For more information:
Horticoop Technical Services
[email protected]
www.hcts.tech
