Technology Spotlight – An Interview with Carbon Re

As part of Beaumont Bailey’s mission to connect founders, innovators and key players that make up the fabric of our industry, our latest Technology Spotlight highlights the successes of our incredible network. In this instalment, we speak with Daniel Summerbell, Co-Founder & Chief Solutions Officer at Carbon Re.

It was a pleasure speaking recently with Daniel, whose background and vision for Carbon Re are both inspiring and transformative. Daniel’s career has been deeply rooted in the cement industry,  where his pioneering research in sustainability and decarbonisation has addressed some of the most  significant challenges facing the sector. His expertise and passion have culminated in Carbon Re, a  company on a mission to eliminate gigatonnes of CO2 emissions annually, targeting energy-intensive  industries like cement, steel, and glass.

At the heart of Carbon Re’s innovation is their AI-powered platform, specifically designed to optimise production processes and reduce inefficiencies in real time. The technology focuses on the most energy intensive stages of manufacturing, such as pre-heaters and kilns in cement production. By analysing and adjusting variables in real-time, the platform achieves remarkable results— with savings of up to a 5% reduction in both fuel consumption and carbon emissions per installation, achievable today. The solution is cloud-based, requiring no additional capital investments, which allows manufacturers to achieve operational savings while  advancing their sustainability goals.

What makes Carbon Re stand out is its laser-focused approach to decarbonising the cement industry.  Unlike other solutions, which often address broad sectors, Carbon Re’s AI technology has been tailored to the specific needs of cement manufacturers. This targeted expertise ensures maximum impact and actionable insights, positioning the company as a leader in this niche space.

Carbon Re has also secured partnerships with major players like FLSmidth and ABB, seamlessly  integrating its AI solutions with these OEMs’ technologies to scale the adoption of sustainable practices across the industry. These collaborations, paired with their proven success in projects with industry leaders like Heidelberg Materials and Secil, demonstrate the efficacy and scalability of their solution.

The company’s seed funding round, led by Planet A Ventures, Clean Growth Fund & UCL Technology Fund is a strong endorsement of its potential. Carbon Re is applying this funding to further increase the carbon impact of their solution in cement and enable further deployment of its technology globally, and into adjacent energy intensive sectors.

Congratulations to the team  on this exciting journey!

If you would like to discuss any of the topics raised in this piece or if you need support wit you leadership resourcing strategy, please get in touch with Alex Catana on: alex.catana@beaumontbailey.com.