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ReCarbon

ApplicationFremont, California, USAFounded 2011· One of 381 Application companies tracked by AMPulse

Develops microwave-plasma carbon transformation systems that convert CO2 and methane into syngas and hydrogen, utilizing additive manufacturing to produce high-efficiency 'Emission Blade' reactor components.

CEO / Founder
Jay Kim
Team Size
11-50
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$37.25M
Latest Round
Series B
Key Investors
Doosan Mecatec; POSCO Holdings; GS Holdings; D3 Jubilee Partners; Bumhan Mecatec; LB Investment

Technology & Products

Key Products

ReCarbon transforms CO2 and methane into useful products and clean energy, including syngas and hydrogen. Their core innovation is the patented Emission Blade, a microwave-plasma generation device. They focus on providing clean hydrogen for commercial transport, clean methanol for maritime shipping, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). ReCarbon successfully demonstrated a new plasma reformer unit in Korea in October 2024, with plans to enter the Korean market by transforming GHGs from biogas sites into clean fuels.

Technological Advantage

Claimed: Modular and scalable carbon recycling. Verified: Patents for microwave plasma torches (US10421051). Defensible: Proprietary AM-designed reactor geometries that optimize gas flow and heat management.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Transforms waste emissions into revenue-generating syngas and hydrogen, enabling industrial plants to reduce carbon taxes while creating feedstocks worth $300-$500/ton with a 20-30% IRR.

How They Differentiate

ReCarbon differentiates itself through its patented microwave-plasma generation device, the Emission Blade, which offers high throughput, reliability, and energy efficiency in transforming CO2 and methane into useful products. Their plasma process provides a smaller physical footprint and faster reaction kinetics compared to bioreactors, with AM-optimized components reducing maintenance costs by 30% and increasing conversion efficiency to over 90%.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Industrial manufacturers, landfill operators, and wastewater treatment plants seeking to monetize CO2 and methane emissions.

Industry Verticals

Energy; Chemicals; Waste Management; Heavy Industry

Competitors

OxEon Energy, Sunfire, LanzaTech

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

$42M total funding raised; 30+ employees; active pilot projects in North America and Asia-Pacific

Major Milestones

2011: Founded; 2019: US Patent for plasma torch; 2022: $25M Series B funding; 2023: Partnership with City of Lancaster for green hydrogen production

Notable Customers

H2Renewables (for landfill gas to hydrogen agreement); POSCO (strategic investor and partner); GS Holdings Corporation (strategic investor and partner); City of Lancaster (CA); Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts (LACSD)

https://www.recarboninc.com

Why this company matters

ReCarbon develops microwave-plasma carbon transformation systems that convert CO2 and methane into syngas and hydrogen. The company's core innovation is the Emission Blade, a patented microwave-plasma generation device whose internal cooling channels are enabled by additive manufacturing. These AM-designed geometries allow higher power density and 95% uptime compared to traditional thermal reactors, while reducing maintenance costs by 30% and achieving conversion efficiency above 90%.

The company targets industrial manufacturers, landfill operators, and wastewater treatment plants seeking to monetize waste emissions. ReCarbon's process transforms CO2 and methane into syngas and hydrogen, which can be used for clean hydrogen in commercial transport, clean methanol for maritime shipping, and sustainable aviation fuel. In October 2024, the company demonstrated a new plasma reformer unit in Korea and plans to enter the Korean market by converting biogas emissions into clean fuels.

ReCarbon holds patents related to microwave plasma torches and plasma reactor pressure control. The company has raised $42 million from investors including Doosan Mecatec, POSCO Holdings, GS Holdings, and D3 Jubilee Partners. Strategic partners include POSCO, GS Holdings, Tomorrow Water, and the City of Lancaster. Active pilot projects are underway in North America and Asia-Pacific.

The company competes with biological and electrochemical carbon utilization approaches from firms such as LanzaTech, OxEon Energy, and Sunfire. ReCarbon's microwave-plasma process offers a smaller physical footprint and faster reaction kinetics than bioreactors, and its AM-optimized reactor components create a defensible position in reactor design. The key open question is whether the technology can scale economically at the tonnage levels required by heavy industry.