News
Zurich, 14.11.2024. The Zurich start-up Recoal has developed a technology that converts (waste) biomass into carbonate, which stores carbon and can be stored “underground” in Switzerland. The goal: a safe and efficient solution for removing CO2 from the atmosphere and a further step towards net zero. Founded in 2023, Recoal aims to bring the technology to market maturity with the support of the Migros Pioneer Fund and then use it worldwide.
From 41.6 million tons of greenhouse gases to net zero by 2050: in addition to reducing emissions, Switzerland's climate target can only be achieved with additional technologies that extract and store CO2 from the atmosphere. With the support of the Migros Pioneer Fund, Recoal is developing a technology that converts (waste) biomass into carbonisate, a carbonaceous product that stores carbon permanently. This carbonate can then be stored "underground", in underground storage facilities. Pirmin Aregger, co-founder of Recoal, summarizes: "Recoal has set itself the goal of offering a simple, safe and efficient solution for the removal of CO2 and thus supporting Switzerland on its way to net zero."
With the support of the Migros Pioneer Fund to net zero Financially, the young company can count on the Migros Pioneer Fund.
The development fund has decided to support Recoal because "without investment in carbon dioxide removal - the permanent removal of CO2 from the atmosphere - Switzerland will not achieve its climate targets. Recoal's solution is promising, especially because the CO2 can be permanently stored domestically and transparently in the form of carbonate." Says Pablo Villars, Project Manager at the Migros Pioneer Fund.
Team and initial successes
Following successful feasibility studies with partners such as ETH Zurich and TU Delft, Pirmin Aregger, Joachim Hanssler and Giovanni Alberti founded Recoal AG in 2023. The team is currently working intensively on planning a pilot plant in Switzerland. Recoal received prestigious recognition shortly after it was founded: Recoal's potential was confirmed both at the IMD Start-up Competition and in international carbon removal programs such as remove and the ceezer Carbon Coalition.
Attractive market and great potential for Switzerland
The need for CO2 removal technologies is emphasized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, among others. This could also open up enormous economic potential for Switzerland: Forecasts by the Boston Consulting Group predict growth in the billions by 2030 - comparable to today's oil and gas industry. Switzerland is well positioned: Around 9% of global jobs in this growth sector are based here.
About Recoal
The Zurich-based start-up has developed a technology that efficiently removes CO2 emissions and permanently stores them geologically.
Further information: www.recoal.net
About the Migros Pioneer Fund
The Migros Pioneer Fund supports sustainable solutions for social challenges in order to initiate systemic change towards a sustainable society. The impact-oriented funding approach combines financial support with active funding and risk management. The fund is RECOAL AG, Hardturmstrasse 161, 8005 Zurich part of the Migros Group's social commitment and has an annual budget of around CHF 15 million. It is supported by Migros Group companies such as Denner, Migros Bank, Migrol, migrolino and Ex Libris.
Further information: www.migros-pionierfonds.ch
For queries
Pirmin Aregger, Recoal, Co-Founder, 079 353 93 12, pirmin.aregger@recoal.net
Martina Bühler, Recoal, Communications, 079 239 84 15, martina.buehler@recoal.net
Pablo Villars, Migros Pioneer Fund, Project Manager, 058 570 18 67, pablo.villars@mgb.ch

News
Zurich – The city of Zurich has included a further seven start-ups in its KlimUp program. You are in the start-up phase. Your business ideas relating to climate protection and the circular economy are supported for six months with financial and other benefits.
(CONNECT) The current fourth edition of the KlimUp program has started with a new group of seven start-ups that are currently in the pre-seed phase. This initiative of the City of Zurich promotes its climate technologies or ideas for the circular economy with non-dilutive financial support of up to CHF 250,000. KlimUp is run by the Zurich start-up promoter BlueLion and supported by its incubator services.
Emissium from Sion provides data centers and other energy-intensive companies in particular with site-specific real-time data for the detailed tracking of their electricity emissions. Its system combines public and private data and creates high-quality models.
KoraLabs GmbH from Zurich develops tools for agricultural management. These use artificial intelligence to make it easier for agricultural companies to make sustainable decisions.
Kuafu, a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology(Empa) based in Dübendorf ZH, is a platform for electricity grid operators that uses artificial intelligence to enable intelligent grid control. It closes the communication gap between the key players and enables cost-efficient decarbonization of the grid.
Neology Hydrogen AG from Lutry VD produces clean hydrogen. It uses ammonia as a cost-effective and emission-free carrier.
nuorail GmbH from Zurich builds intelligent driver assistance systems for trains. These enable complex energy optimizations in milliseconds.
recoal AG from Zurich uses waste biomass to capture CO2 from the atmosphere. The company has developed an efficient and scalable technology for its permanent underground storage.
Straintest GmbH enables the precise monitoring of infrastructure structures using commercially available cameras in smartphones and drones. The Zurich-based start-up emerged from the ETH Student Project House. ce/mm

The fourth edition of the City of Zurich's KlimUp programme supports seven pre-seed start-ups for climate and circular economy projects. Symbolic image: Singkham/Pexels
Startups
recoal AG (hereinafter referred to as “Recoal”) is a Zurich-based company that develops a scalable and sustainable solution for the removal and storage of carbon dioxide. Recoal uses hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), an advanced thermal process that converts moist organic waste streams into a stable, carbon-rich material called Hydrochar. This hydrochar is then permanently stored in underground geological formations, effectively sequestering the carbon for thousands of years.
The company’s mission is in line with global climate goals by providing a permanent and verifiable carbon removal solution. Recoal monetizes its technology by generating high-quality carbon credits that are sold to companies that want to achieve their net-zero and science-based emission reduction targets.
Since its inception, Recoal has successfully completed industrial-scale trials, secured funding and mentorship from leading institutions, and filed a core patent to protect its proprietary process. The company has also entered into strategic partnerships with academic and research institutions, conducted feasibility studies and entered into initial commercial discussions with potential customers.
Recoal is currently commissioning its pilot plant, which is scheduled to go into operation at the beginning of 2026. During scaling, the team continues to work on optimizing process efficiency, validating product stability and building a pipeline of prospects to support future commercial adoption.
Hardturmstrasse 161
8005 Zürich
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