Africa is seeing the rise of direct air capture (DAC) startups focused on removing CO₂ directly from the atmosphere to combat climate change.
While the sector is still in its early stages, innovative startups are developing scalable technology solutions to capture and store carbon, positioning Africa as a player in the global carbon removal market.
Here are the Top DAC Startups in Africa:
— Octavia Carbon (Kenya): Africa’s first DAC startup, designing machines that extract CO₂ from ambient air and store it underground. Their flagship technology is expected to capture thousands of tonnes of carbon annually.
— Sirona Technologies (Kenya / global): A climate tech startup scaling DAC systems with pilot plants in Kenya, aiming to expand Africa’s carbon removal capacity through innovative capture technologies.
— Cella Mineral Storage (Kenya / Pan‑Africa partner): While focused on CO₂ mineralization, Cella collaborates with DAC startups to ensure captured carbon is securely and permanently stored.
— Climeworks Africa Partnerships (Pan‑Africa): Partnering with local startups to deploy DAC units and integrate carbon capture technologies across African markets, bridging global expertise with local innovation.
— Climate Tech Africa Startups (Regional consortiums): A network of emerging climate tech startups supporting DAC innovation, pilot deployment, and R&D to advance scalable carbon removal solutions across the continent.
These startups highlight Africa’s potential in carbon removal innovation, demonstrating how technology and entrepreneurship are driving climate action on the continent.
This ranking is based on verified DAC startups operating in Africa, active development of direct air carbon capture technology, documented pilot deployment, partnerships for carbon storage, and media or industry coverage as of Q1 2026.
Image Credit: Society of Petroleum Engineers
