One Twin Cities company is developing a reactor to remove carbon dioxide from the air and convert it into a charcoal-like substance. Another is developing technology to change renewable ammonia to a combustion fuel for engines.
Both eventually hope to help make Minnesota carbon free — and make money in the process.
The companies, Carba and Aza Power Systems, are receiving seed funding through a new statewide initiative to develop their technologies, a critical step energy stakeholders believe will increase Minnesota’s economic competitiveness.
The initiative, Minnesota Energy Alley, is designed to produce more companies that drive Minnesota’s transition into a clean-energy economy. It’s similar to Medical Alley, based in Golden Valley, which formed four decades ago to drive innovation in the state’s medical device and health technology industry.
Minnesota Energy Alley is jointly operated by Minneapolis-based nonprofit Clean Energy Economy Minnesota and Minneapolis-based Grid Catalyst, a company that offers training and development to energy based startups, according to a news release. The initiative was founded with a $3 million, one-time grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce.
“These are the types of investments that help support Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework and that will strengthen Minnesota now and as we transition to a clean energy future,” Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Grace Arnold said in a statement.
Minnesota’s Climate Action Framework plan set a vision to make Minnesota a net zero-emission state by 2050, including reducing emissions by 50% by 2030.
Officials are hoping the initiative will also spur job creation. As of 2023, about 60,000 Minnesotans worked in clean energy and energy efficiency, according to CEEM’s 2023 Clean Jobs Midwest-MN report. The energy sector accounts for 2.1% of statewide jobs and grew 50% faster than all other sectors of Minnesota’s economy over the past year, the organizations stated.
