Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a natural part of the atmosphere, yet its excessive concentration threatens both the environment and human health. Studies show that indoor CO₂ levels above 1000 ppm can lower the quality of sleep and cause fatigue, dryness, or breathing discomfort (Liu, Lin & Zhang, 2023).

As global emissions continue to rise, it becomes essential not only to reduce new CO₂ output but also to capture and reuse what already exists in the air. This approach – known as Direct Air Capture (DAC) – has inspired innovators worldwide, including Ukrainian entrepreneurs working to make the planet cleaner.

In 2019, Ukrainian engineer Yurii Hartskiy founded Carbominer, a startup the  name of which literally means “carbon miner.” The idea came from a personal concern – his daughter’s health and the quality of the air she breathed (Yermolenko, 2025). Realizing the wider potential of this problem, Hartskiy set out to design a technology capable of extracting CO₂ directly from the atmosphere and turning it into a useful product.

Soon after its creation, Carbominer reached the finals of ClimateLaunchpad 2019, being recognized as one of the most promising green-tech startups in Europe.

Carbominer focuses on developing Direct Air Capture units that can remove CO₂ from the air and deliver it directly to greenhouses or vertical farms, where CO₂ accelerates plant growth. Unlike industrial systems, Carbominer’s approach is decentralized: its compact modules can be installed on-site, eliminating the need to transport compressed CO₂ from factories (Carbominer, n.d.-a).

The company’s broader mission is to make DAC technology affordable, local, and environmentally clean, combining business efficiency with ecological responsibility.

Carbominer’s system uses liquid absorbents that selectively capture CO₂ from ambient air. When saturated, the absorbent is regenerated with low-energy heating, releasing pure CO₂ for reuse (Carbominer, n.d.-b).

A key innovation is the plan to power these systems with solar panels, ensuring that air capture does not rely on fossil energy. The integration of renewable power sources helps make the process nearly carbon-neutral and suitable for operation in remote agricultural areas.

This combination of on-site production and renewable energy use places Carbominer among the most sustainable DAC developers in the world (Carbominer, n.d.-c).

Carbominer has already tested pilot systems in Ukraine and Europe, proving their efficiency under real conditions. The next step is commercial scaling and cooperation with partners in agriculture, construction, and energy.

The company also explores how captured CO₂ can be used to produce synthetic fuels and eco-friendly building materials, turning carbon into a valuable industrial feedstock rather than waste.

Despite the progress, DAC remains energy-intensive and costly. Because CO₂ forms only 0.04 % of the air, huge volumes must be processed to capture meaningful amounts. Without renewable power, such systems can even emit more CO₂ than they remove (Keith, Holmes, St. Angelo & Heidel, 2021).

Economic challenges also persist: carbon credits and global policies are still developing, and large-scale adoption will require both government incentives and cheaper materials (Gambhir, Realmonte & Nemet, 2024).

Still, the benefits of DAC are undeniable. It can operate anywhere, remove historical emissions, and provide CO₂ for industrial reuse. When combined with renewable energy – like Carbominer’s planned solar-powered modules – it can achieve net-negative emissions (Keith et al., 2021; Gambhir, Realmonte & Nemet, 2024).

Carbominer’s local, modular approach makes the technology more flexible and sustainable, showing how carbon capture can evolve into a profitable, environmentally friendly industry (Carbominer, n.d.-a; Carbominer, n.d.-c).

Direct Air Capture and carbon utilization mark a turning point in how humanity interacts with the atmosphere. By transforming CO₂ from a harmful gas into a valuable resource, companies like Carbominer prove that innovation and environmental care can go hand in hand.

Though challenges remain, the combination of renewable energy, scientific progress, and human creativity brings us closer to a future where clean air is not only a right but also a renewable resource.

References:

1. Carbominer. (n.d.-a). About us. Retrieved from https://carbominer.com
2. Carbominer. (n.d.-b). Technology. Retrieved from https://carbominer.com/technology
3. Carbominer. (n.d.-c). Implementation. Retrieved from https://carbominer.com
4. Gambhir, A., Realmonte, G., & Nemet, G. F. (2024). Environmental Science & Technology, 58(3), 1271–1280. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c08269
5. Keith, D. W., Holmes, G., St. Angelo, D., & Heidel, K. (2021). Energy & Environmental Science, 14(12), 7063–7090. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EE03523A
6. Liu, X., Lin, Z., & Zhang, Y. (2023). CO₂ levels and human health in buildings. Buildings, 13(11), 2768. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13112768
7. Yermolenko, K. (2025, April 21). Vydobuvach vuhletsyu: ukrayintsi stvoryly startap, yakyy vytyahaye CO₂ z povitrya [Carbon extractor: Ukrainians create startup that extracts CO₂ from the air]. Hmarochos. Retrieved from  https://hmarochos.kiev.ua/2025/04/21/vydobuvach-vugleczyu-ukrayinsczi-stvryly-startap-yakyj-vytyagaye/