KC8 Capture Technologies
KC8 Capture Technologies is an Australian private company licensing the UNO MK3 potassium carbonate solvent carbon capture technology to heavy industrial emitters in cement, steel, power generation, and chemicals across Australia, the United States, and Mexico.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What KC8 Capture Technologies does
KC8 Capture Technologies is an Australian private company that licenses carbon capture technology to heavy industrial emitters. It commercializes the UNO MK3 precipitating solvent process, which uses a potassium carbonate (K2CO3) solvent to capture 95%+ of CO2 from industrial flue gases at regeneration energy of 2-2.5 GJ/tonne CO2 and at claimed capital costs up to 50% below conventional amine systems. The process also captures SOx and NOx, converting these into saleable fertilizer by-products (K2SO4, KNO3) and eliminating the need for separate flue gas desulfurization. KC8 complements the core solvent with a Process and Heat Integration optimization methodology and proprietary Large Scale Single Stream Contacting columns built from concrete and/or geopolymers to reduce equipment footprint and cost at industrial scale.
The company's revenue model is technology licensing and project-based engineering services. Pre-commercial revenue comes from Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, such as the Cemex 100+ TPD study, and funded demonstration projects including the 15 TPD PACER plant at Cement Australia's Gladstone facility and the 5-10 TPD UNOGAS demonstration at the US National Carbon Capture Center under ARPA-E FLECCS. Customer segments are cement, steel, power generation (including NGCC), and chemical production, with geographic focus on Australia, the United States (Durham, NC office), and Mexico via the Cemex relationship. The investor base comprises Woodside Energy, Cemex Ventures, and an undisclosed petrochemical company alongside Australian and US government grants, and the company signals an intent toward an ASX listing.
KC8 Capture Technologies firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KC8 Capture Technologies
- Legal name
- KC8 Capture Technologies Ltd
- Website
- https://kc8capture.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- KC8 Capture Technologies is an Australian private company licensing the UNO MK3 potassium carbonate solvent carbon capture technology to heavy industrial emitters in cement, steel, power generation, and chemicals across Australia, the United States, and Mexico.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KC8 Capture Technologies industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Carbon Capture Technology
- NAICS
- Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (325180)
- SIC
- Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (2810)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial & Refrigerant Emissions Reduction (N2O, HFCs, SF6, Process Emissions) (EUABABAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Carbon Removal Project Development, Financing & Offtake (Developers, Aggregators, Buyers Clubs) (EUABAFAL), Solvent/Sorbent/Catalyst Materials & Capture Equipment Manufacturing (Absorbers, Strippers, Heat Exchangers) (EUAAALAJ), CO₂ Storage Site Development & Permitting (Characterization, Licensing, Stakeholder Engagement) (EUABAHAF)
Keywords
Where KC8 Capture Technologies is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Melbourne
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
KC8 Capture Technologies business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Technology Licensing: KC8 is a process licensing company developing carbon capture technologies. Revenue is generated through licensing the UNO MK3 technology to industrial customers for carbon capture deployment. The company provides engineering studies, demonstration projects, and commercial deployment licensing agreements.
- Engineering and Design Services: Provides Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies and engineering services for technology deployment at client facilities. Example: FEED study with Cemex at cement plant targeting 100+ tons per day CO2 capture.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
KC8 Capture Technologies product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KC8 commercializes the UNO MK3 potassium carbonate (K2CO3) based precipitating solvent carbon capture technology, licensing it to heavy industrial emitters in cement, steel, power generation and chemicals for capture of up to 95% of CO2 emissions at up to 50% lower capital cost than amine-based systems. The company complements licensing with Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, pilot and demonstration project execution (PACER at Cement Australia, UNOGAS at NCCC Alabama), and engineering services delivered through strategic partners such as 8 Rivers Capital.
Product overview
KC8 Capture Technologies offers a portfolio of carbon capture technologies centred on its core UNO MK3 precipitating solvent technology using potassium carbonate. The product suite includes technology applications (Process and Heat Integration software, Large Scale Single Stream Contacting Systems), demonstration projects (UNOGAS at the US National Carbon Capture Center, PACER at Cement Australia in Gladstone), and a research facility (ReDeFINE with University of Melbourne). The company is also developing future generations of its technology including UNO MK3+, MK4, MK5, and UNO Enhanced through its research roadmap. The technologies target hard-to-abate industries including cement, steel, power generation, and chemical production.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- UNO MK3 Carbon Capture Technology Proprietary precipitating potassium carbonate (K2CO3) solvent carbon capture technology that captures up to 95% of CO2 emissions from heavy industrial sources, with low regeneration energy (2-2.5 GJ/tonne CO2), up to 50% lower capital cost than amine systems, and multi-impurity capture that produces fertilizer by-products. Licensed to industrial customers such as Cement Australia (PACER project) and Cemex (FEED study).
- Large Scale Single Stream Contacting Systems Proprietary concentric single stream absorption/stripping columns using concrete and/or geopolymers as primary materials of construction, enabling larger diameters than steel columns, single vessel installation, up to 50% cost reduction and superior liquid and gas distribution for large industrial CCUS deployments.
- Process and Heat Integration Optimization Multi-objective optimisation and energy targeting methodology and software for all Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) applications, providing holistic optimisation that predominantly reduces operating costs by integrating heat and material balances across the host plant, capture plant and CO2 compression.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 95% CO2 capture rate from heavy industrial sources
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use KC8 Capture Technologies
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
KC8 Capture Technologies technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
KC8 Capture Technologies partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.
- ShellmajorAs winner of 2025 New Energy Challenge, KC8 will collaborate with Shell to further develop and scale clean ammonia and carbon capture technologies. Competition partners include Rockstart, YES!Delft, and Unknown.
- University of Melbournemajor$8.5 million ReDeFINE research facility partnership. KC8 and University researchers advancing UNO MK3 technology with $5.4M government grant. Located on campus in Parkville, linked to PACER capture plant in Gladstone.
- Low Emission Technology Australia (LETA)coreCo-investment partnership in PACER (Potassium Carbonate Absorption for Clinker Emissions Reduction) project at Cement Australia facility in Gladstone. LETA provides funding support enabling the demonstration of KC8's technology in Australian cement industry.
- Cement AustraliacoreHost partner for PACER project demonstration plant at Gladstone, Queensland facility. First major commercial demonstration of KC8 technology in cement production, targeting 15 TPD CO2 capture.
- Pilot EnergymajorMoU to collaborate on offering CCS solution targeting Mid West industrial emitters in Western Australia. Initial focus on Pilot's industrial customers near the Cliff Head CCS Project with over 1 million tonnes per annum storage capacity.
- 8 Rivers CapitalcoreSales Framework Agreement for engineering, project development and licensing of KC8 technology. 8 Rivers is KC8's US partner for ARPA-E program. Working together on UNOGAS project demonstration at National Carbon Capture Center.
- National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC)coreUS Department of Energy neutral research facility in Alabama where KC8 is conducting UNOGAS project demonstration (5-10 TPD). KC8 has been listed as Carbon Capture Developer Technology since receiving DoE grant in 2022.
- VGasminorFabrication and manufacturing partner at VGas Facility in Houston, Texas. Completed assembly of UNOGAS project modules for shipment to National Carbon Capture Center.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KC8 Capture Technologies competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aker Carbon Capture: Norwegian listed CCS technology company offering amine-based and proprietary solvent capture solutions to cement, power and industrial customers globally. Closely comparable in business model (technology licensing + project development) and customer segments.
- ION Clean Energy: US-based developer of proprietary solvent-based post-combustion CO2 capture technology targeting industrial emitters and power generation. Comparable in pre-commercial pilot stage, point-source capture focus, and licensing-oriented business model.
- CarbonCapture Inc. California-based carbon removal company developing both DAC and point-source capture technologies. Comparable as a venture-backed capture technology developer targeting industrial-scale deployment and licensing.
- Climeworks: Swiss DAC carbon removal technology developer and project operator. Comparable as a venture-backed carbon capture technology company pursuing project-based deployment, though focused on DAC rather than point-source industrial capture.
- Carbon Clean: UK-headquartered point-source carbon capture technology provider using solvent-based processes for hard-to-abate industries including cement, steel, and power. Most direct competitor to KC8's UNO MK3 in industrial post-combustion capture.
Broad incumbents
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries: Global industrial conglomerate whose KM CDR (Kansai Mitsubishi Carbon Dioxide Recovery) process is one of the most widely deployed amine-based post-combustion capture technologies. Competes in the same cement/power capture market but as part of a much broader engineering portfolio.
- Babcock & Wilcox: US industrial engineering firm with a carbon capture business line (B&W Solar/Environmental) offering post-combustion capture solutions to power and industrial customers. Comparable in industrial CCS offering but as part of a much larger diversified portfolio.
- Heidelberg Materials: Global cement major actively pursuing carbon capture at scale (e.g. Brevik CCS in Norway) and a major potential customer/competitor ecosystem player for cement-specific CCS technologies like KC8's UNO MK3.
Emerging players
- LanzaTech: US/NZ-based carbon capture and conversion company that turns industrial off-gases into fuels and chemicals. Comparable in using proprietary chemistry to convert captured carbon, but with a utilization (not storage) commercial thesis.
- CarbonCure: Canadian carbon utilization technology company injecting captured CO2 into concrete. Comparable as a venture-backed decarbonization technology for the cement/concrete value chain, but pursues utilization rather than capture-and-store.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
KC8 Capture Technologies social profiles
Digital presenceKC8 Capture Technologies financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KC8 Capture Technologies leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
KC8 Capture Technologies funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KC8 Capture Technologies 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 KC8 Capture Technologies
What does KC8 Capture Technologies do?
KC8 commercializes the UNO MK3 potassium carbonate (K2CO3) based precipitating solvent carbon capture technology, licensing it to heavy industrial emitters in cement, steel, power generation and chemicals for capture of up to 95% of CO2 emissions at up to 50% lower capital cost than amine-based systems. The company complements licensing with Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) studies, pilot and demonstration project execution (PACER at Cement Australia, UNOGAS at NCCC Alabama), and engineering services delivered through strategic partners such as 8 Rivers Capital.
Is KC8 Capture Technologies a public or private company?
KC8 Capture Technologies is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was KC8 Capture Technologies founded?
KC8 Capture Technologies was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is KC8 Capture Technologies based?
KC8 Capture Technologies is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does KC8 Capture Technologies make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Technology Licensing is the primary driver. The others are engineering and Design Services.
Who are KC8 Capture Technologies's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aker Carbon Capture, ION Clean Energy, CarbonCapture Inc., Climeworks and Carbon Clean. Broad incumbents are Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Babcock & Wilcox and Heidelberg Materials. Emerging players are LanzaTech and CarbonCure.
Does KC8 Capture Technologies have an API?
No public API is recorded for KC8 Capture Technologies.
What industry is KC8 Capture Technologies in?
KC8 Capture Technologies's product category is Carbon Capture Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABABAM, Industrial & Refrigerant Emissions Reduction (N2O, HFCs, SF6, Process Emissions), with a secondary code of EUABAFAL, Carbon Removal Project Development, Financing & Offtake (Developers, Aggregators, Buyers Clubs). Its NAICS code is 325180 and its SIC code is 2810.