ICODOS
ICODOS GmbH is a German climate-tech company, spun off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, that produces carbon-neutral e-methanol from biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen using a patented hybrid carbon capture and methanol synthesis process for shipping fuel and chemical industry customers across Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersMannheim, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What ICODOS does
ICODOS GmbH is a Mannheim, Germany-based climate-tech company, founded as a spin-off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in 2019, that has developed a patented hybrid process for producing carbon-neutral e-methanol by integrating CO2 capture and methanol synthesis in a single automated system. The technology converts biogenic CO2 from sources such as biogas (wastewater treatment, organic waste) and industrial off-gases, combined with green hydrogen from water electrolysis, into e-methanol. The company claims >30% lower energy consumption for carbon capture versus conventional approaches, >99% utilization of captured CO2, and a modular architecture deployable at >40,000 identified CO2 point sources in Europe and North America. ICODOS serves industrial clients in shipping (drop-in marine fuel), the chemical industry (feedstock replacement), wastewater treatment operators (biogas valorization), and ports/energy infrastructure (demonstration offtake and engine qualification with partners such as EDF, WinGD, and EBS Mannheim).
The company's product portfolio spans three generations: a 10 tons/year pilot plant (2021-2023), the Mannheim 001 demonstration plant producing ~15,000 liters/year from sewage biogas (opened March 2025), and modular commercial-scale plants targeting 3,500 tons/year, with an aspirational 1 million tons/year by 2030. In 2026, ICODOS extended into adjacent CCU chemistries with the Carbon FluX Electrolyzer for carbon-negative formic acid and potassium formate. ICODOS generates revenue through two primary streams: direct sale of e-methanol produced at its demonstration and commercial plants, and licensing of its patented process technology together with engineering and design services for partner plants (e.g., leading the 3D-printed reactor design for the BeBOP project). Go-to-market combines direct B2B enterprise sales with project-based technology validation and de-risking through EU Horizon Europe-funded consortia (POSEIDON at €9.7M and BeBOP at €11.16M), positioning the company as a de-fossilization technology supplier for hard-to-abate sectors. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated project-by-project with industrial clients and port authorities.
ICODOS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ICODOS
- Legal name
- ICODOS GmbH
- Website
- https://icodos.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- ICODOS GmbH is a German climate-tech company, spun off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, that produces carbon-neutral e-methanol from biogenic CO2 and green hydrogen using a patented hybrid carbon capture and methanol synthesis process for shipping fuel and chemical industry customers across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ICODOS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- E-Methanol Production Technology
- NAICS
- Petrochemical Manufacturing (32511), Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (32519)
- SIC
- Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860), Petroleum Refining (2911)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Methanol Storage & Handling (Conventional & E-methanol) (EUAFAFAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Alternative Low-Carbon Marine Fuels Bunkering (Methanol, Biofuels, Ammonia, Hydrogen) (TLAHAKAC), Biogas/RNG Plant Development, EPC & Project Delivery (EUAAAEAH), Organics-to-Energy & CHP from Biogas (On-site Power/Heat) (EUAIAEAG)
Keywords
Where ICODOS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mannheim
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ICODOS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- E-Methanol Production and Sale: ICODOS produces and sells e-methanol as a sustainable fuel for the shipping industry and as a feedstock for the chemical industry. Revenue is generated from the sale of e-methanol produced at its demonstration and commercial plants.
- Technology Licensing and Engineering Services: ICODOS licenses its patented hybrid e-methanol production process to industrial partners and provides engineering and design services for e-methanol plant deployment. The company leads engineering and design of methanol units in EU projects (e.g., 3D-printed reactor for BeBOP project).
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
ICODOS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ICODOS develops a patented hybrid process that integrates CO2 capture and methanol synthesis into a single system to produce sustainable e-methanol from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen. The company produces and sells e-methanol as a drop-in marine fuel for the shipping industry and as a renewable feedstock for the chemical industry, and licenses its process technology and provides engineering services to industrial partners deploying modular e-methanol plants.
Product overview
ICODOS is a Germany-based technology development company specializing in e-methanol production solutions. The company's primary offering is its patented hybrid process that combines point-source carbon capture with methanol synthesis to produce sustainable e-methanol. The product portfolio includes three generations of production technology: (1) Lab demonstration validating the patented process through carbon capture and synthesis of real gases (2019-2021), (2) A pilot plant with 10 tons/year capacity commissioned 2021-2023, and (3) Commercial-scale modular plants with 3,500 tons/year capacity planned from 2024. Additionally, ICODOS provides engineering services for 3D-printed methanol synthesis reactors. The Mannheim 001 demonstration plant showcases the technology converting sewage biogas to e-methanol for shipping fuel.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Patented Hybrid E-Methanol Production Process A patented proprietary technology that combines point-source CO2 capture from biogas or industrial off-gases with methanol synthesis using green hydrogen to produce e-methanol. Achieves >30% lower energy consumption for carbon capture and >99% utilization of captured CO2. Licensed to industrial partners in shipping, chemical, wastewater, and energy sectors.
- E-Methanol Fuel Sustainably produced e-methanol sold as a drop-in marine fuel for shipping companies and as a renewable carbon-neutral feedstock for the chemical industry, produced from CO2 and green hydrogen using ICODOS's patented hybrid process.
- Modular Commercial-Scale E-Methanol Plants Modular industrial-scale e-methanol production plants with a capacity of 3,500 tons of e-methanol per year. Fully automated and dynamically operated, designed for rapid deployment at distributed CO2 sources including wastewater treatment plants, biogas facilities, and industrial sites.
- 3D-Printed Methanol Synthesis Reactor A state-of-the-art 3D-printed methanol synthesis reactor with a load-flexible reaction system and excellent heat management for converting syngas into methanol. Engineered and designed by ICODOS as a key component for biomass-to-methanol conversion.
- Carbon FluX Electrolyzer An electrolyzer technology that produces carbon-negative formic acid and potassium formate at a capacity of 60 tons per year. Extends ICODOS's CO2 utilization portfolio beyond e-methanol into additional chemical products.
Quantifiable outcome
- >30% lower energy consumption for carbon capture compared to traditional methods
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use ICODOS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
ICODOS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
ICODOS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, significant and core.
- Eigenbetrieb Stadtentwässerung (EBS) MannheimmajorEBS Mannheim (municipal wastewater utility) partnered with ICODOS and KIT to build the Mannheim 001 demonstration plant, the world's first facility for carbon-neutral e-methanol production from sewage. The plant converts biogas from the wastewater treatment plant into e-methanol using ICODOS's patented process.
- World Economic Forum / UpLinksignificantICODOS was recognized as one of 11 Top Innovators in the Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) Challenge, organized by the World Economic Forum's UpLink platform. The award was presented at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum 2024 in Riyadh in conjunction with COP16. The challenge was supported by Saudi Ministry of Economy and Planning, Ministry of Energy, KACST, Aramco, SABIC, and others.
- BeBOP Project Consortium (12 partners, 7 countries)coreThe BeBOP project (Oct 2024 – Sep 2028) focuses on biomass-to-methanol conversion with ultra-high resource efficiency. ICODOS leads the engineering of a 3D-printed methanol synthesis reactor. Partners include VTT (pilot plant host, Finland), Politecnico di Milano, ELCOGEN, BASF, ECODESIGN, INERIS, WOOD, and others.
- BASFcoreBASF collaborated with ICODOS and KIT to commission the world's first fully integrated, fully automated, and dynamically operated e-methanol plant at KIT's Campus North in Germany (February 2024). BASF contributed to refining the patented e-methanol production process, particularly in the area of chemical catalysts and adsorbents.
- POSEIDON Project Consortium (19 partners, 7 countries)coreThe POSEIDON project (Sept 2023 – Aug 2027) is coordinated by EIFER and includes 19 partners from 7 European countries. ICODOS is building a TRL 7 e-methanol production plant at EDF's energy lab Les Reunières in France. The consortium also includes EDF, WinGD, Fincantieri, ports of Valencia and Thessaloniki, and others. The project demonstrates synthetic methanol as fuel for shipping.
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)coreICODOS was founded as a spin-off from KIT. The company developed its patented hybrid e-methanol process in close collaboration with KIT researchers, including CTO Dr. Francisco Vidal Vázquez. KIT and ICODOS jointly developed the technology from lab scale (2019-2021) through pilot plant (2021-2023) and the world's first fully integrated e-methanol plant. The relationship is ongoing through EU projects (POSEIDON, BeBOP).
- EIFER (European Institute for Energy Research)majorEIFER is the coordinator of the POSEIDON project. As a joint European institute, EIFER facilitates collaboration between research institutions and industry on energy-related projects.
- EDF (Electricité de France)majorICODOS built an e-methanol plant at EDF's energy lab Les Reunières south of Paris. EDF provides the facility and infrastructure for testing the technology in relevant operational environments.
- VTT Technical Research Centre of FinlandmajorVTT hosts the BeBOP project pilot plant in Finland, which will incorporate biomass gasification, deep syngas cleaning, integrated electrolysis cell, and methanol synthesis using ICODOS's technology.
- WinGD (Winterthur Gas & Diesel)significantWinGD is a Swiss marine engine manufacturer and POSEIDON project partner. Their participation ensures that the e-methanol produced in the project will be tested in 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines to evaluate fuel quality and compatibility for maritime use. WinGD's activities are co-funded by the Swiss Government.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ICODOS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Carbon Recycling International: Iceland-based pioneer in CO2-to-methanol production using proprietary emissions-to-liquids technology. Closest direct competitor to ICODOS in e-methanol technology, targeting shipping and chemicals end-markets with comparable process integration claims.
- Liquid Wind: Sweden-based e-fuels developer building commercial-scale e-methanol facilities using biomass and green hydrogen. Direct competitor pursuing the same shipping decarbonization customers via a distributed plant model across Northern Europe.
- HIF Global: Chile-headquartered e-fuels company producing e-methanol, e-gasoline, and SAF from green hydrogen and captured CO2. Operates Haru Oni e-fuels pilot and pursues large-scale e-methanol plants — direct competitive overlap with ICODOS in synthetic methanol.
- Prometheus Fuels: US-based e-fuels company developing CO2-to-liquid fuels including methanol and gasoline using direct air capture and renewable electricity. Direct competitor in CO2-to-methanol with comparable technology ambitions.
Emerging players
- Sunfire: German electrolyzer and e-fuels technology company producing green hydrogen and synthetic fuels including e-fuels. Overlaps with ICODOS in Power-to-X infrastructure, providing enabling electrolyzer tech and pursuing e-methanol/e-kerosene pathways.
Broad incumbents
- Methanex: World's largest methanol producer, pursuing 'Geismar 3.5' and other low-carbon methanol projects including e-methanol initiatives. Represents the incumbent competitive threat and potential strategic partner/acquirer for ICODOS technology.
- Ørsted: Danish renewable energy major actively developing green fuels and Power-to-X projects including e-methanol. Broad incumbent in renewable energy expanding into e-methanol production, with stronger balance sheet and project development capability.
- European Energy: Danish renewable energy developer building large-scale e-methanol and Power-to-X facilities. Pursues both offtake with shipping majors and project development across Europe, representing both a competitor and potential project partner for ICODOS.
Others
- thyssenkrupp nucera: German electrolyzer manufacturer (alkaline water electrolysis) and parent/affiliate of thyssenkrupp Uhde's methanol synthesis technology. Provides enabling equipment (electrolyzers, methanol synthesis reactors) — both a supplier and indirect competitor in the e-methanol value chain.
- Topsoe: Danish catalysis and process technology company providing methanol synthesis catalysts and e-methanol process know-how. Competes with ICODOS in process IP for e-methanol production and supplies incumbents; potential partner or competitor depending on licensing path.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ICODOS social profiles
Digital presenceICODOS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ICODOS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
ICODOS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ICODOS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ICODOS
What does ICODOS do?
ICODOS develops a patented hybrid process that integrates CO2 capture and methanol synthesis into a single system to produce sustainable e-methanol from carbon dioxide and green hydrogen. The company produces and sells e-methanol as a drop-in marine fuel for the shipping industry and as a renewable feedstock for the chemical industry, and licenses its process technology and provides engineering services to industrial partners deploying modular e-methanol plants.
Is ICODOS a public or private company?
ICODOS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ICODOS founded?
ICODOS was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ICODOS based?
ICODOS is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ICODOS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. E-Methanol Production and Sale is the primary driver. The others are technology Licensing and Engineering Services.
Who are ICODOS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Carbon Recycling International, Liquid Wind, HIF Global and Prometheus Fuels. Sunfire is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Methanex, Ørsted and European Energy. Others are thyssenkrupp nucera and Topsoe.
Does ICODOS have an API?
No public API is recorded for ICODOS.
What industry is ICODOS in?
ICODOS's product category is E-Methanol Production Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFAFAB, Methanol Storage & Handling (Conventional & E-methanol), with a secondary code of TLAHAKAC, Alternative Low-Carbon Marine Fuels Bunkering (Methanol, Biofuels, Ammonia, Hydrogen). Its NAICS code is 32511 and its SIC code is 2860.