autarkize

Based in Pfronten, Germany, autarkize GmbH operates within the climate tech sector, offering a dual-pronged approach to decarbonization by converting biogenic residues into renewable energy and a stable carbon-sequestering product. Founded in 2022 by Co-CEOs Michel Konder and Friederike Sophie Peter, the company emerged from their prior initiative, Kohlekumpels, which focused on the agricultural application of biochar. The founders' journey began when an inventor with over 25 years of experience in pyrolysis technology approached them, seeking to pass on his knowledge. This led to the realization that scaling this technology was the key to making a significant climate impact, marking the birth of autarkize.

The company's core offering is a decentralized, market-ready system that utilizes pyrolysis to process organic waste such as wood scraps, fermentation residues, and sewage sludge. This process yields two primary products: a high-energy synthesis gas, composed of methane and hydrogen, and certified biochar. The gas serves as a direct substitute for fossil fuels in industrial applications and for generating heat and electricity, while the biochar functions as a permanent CO2 sink. This biochar can be used as a soil conditioner in agriculture or as an additive in construction materials. Revenue is generated through the sale of these pyrolysis plants, the renewable gas, and the biochar, as well as through the trading of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) certificates.

autarkize's technology is delivered in highly standardized, modular systems housed within shipping containers, offering outputs of up to 2.5 megawatts. This containerized design allows for rapid deployment and seamless integration with existing infrastructures at farms, municipalities, or industrial sites. Each plant has the capacity to sequester between 1,400 and 5,500 tons of CO2 and produce up to 10 GWh of renewable energy annually. In October 2024, the company secured €2.3 million in a seed funding round led by High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF) to scale production and accelerate market expansion, particularly for decarbonizing industrial processes and district heating networks.

Keywords: carbon dioxide removal, biochar production, pyrolysis technology, renewable energy, waste-to-energy, synthesis gas, decarbonization, green gas, climate tech, biogenic residues, CO2 sequestration, soil conditioner, decentralized energy, methane production, hydrogen production, modular systems, carbon sink, industrial heat, district heating, circular economy