Origen exceeds performance targets for first-of-a-kind zero-emission lime kiln, demonstrating path to industrial-scale decarbonization
Grand Forks, N.D. — January 23, 2026 —Origen Power Limited (“Origen”), a limestone-based decarbonization company, today announced the successful deployment and testing of its first-of-a-kind (FOAK) zero-emission lime platform at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) in North Dakota. Anchored by Origen’s proprietary oxyfuel kiln technology, the platform operated at large scale for the first time, significantly exceeding performance targets and validating a clear pathway to industrial-scale deployment.
Lime is one of the most widely used industrial materials in the world, yet its production is extremely carbon-intensive, typically releasing nearly one tonne of carbon dioxide for every tonne of lime produced. With over 420 million tonnes of lime manufactured globally each year, this high carbon intensity represents a major and largely unaddressed climate challenge. At the same time, lime is a highly alkaline material that naturally reacts with CO₂ to return to its original form as limestone, making it a powerful carbon sponge. Origen’s technology produces lime while capturing and permanently storing all process emissions, unlocking a massive climate and market opportunity.
Origen worked with the EERC to deliver the North Dakota demonstration facility following the close of its Series A financing in January 2025, which was raised to advance the company’s technology from pilot validation to commercial readiness – a milestone achieved through the demonstration announced today.
“This milestone confirms that Origen’s proprietary technology not only works, but is ready for commercial deployment,” said Ben Riddle-Turner, CEO of Origen. “Exceeding our performance targets at this scale de-risks the core of our platform and establishes zero-emission lime as a foundation for both industrial decarbonization and carbon removal.”
Origen’s kiln at the EERC consistently achieved greater than 99% conversion of limestone to lime in a CO₂-rich operating environment without burning or “sintering” the material, a common industry challenge. This result exceeded both Origen’s original targets and what is typically achieved in conventional kilns today, which is generally closer to 90%, representing a major technical breakthrough for zero-emission lime manufacturing.
The system produced a high-purity CO₂ stream, validating a pathway to more than 98% purity in commercial configurations. Enabled by Origen’s unique oxyfuel kiln design, this system avoids the need for costly and energy-intensive post-processing to separate CO₂ from other gases and impurities prior to compression, transport, and permanent storage. The kiln also operated reliably, achieving 97% uptime, comparable to established industrial kilns and a key indicator of operational readiness.
In parallel, Origen validated its integrated direct air capture system, including lime processing and the company’s largest air contactor units to date. Lime produced by the kiln was formed into highly reactive granules and loaded into air contactor units, where it carbonated over time by absorbing CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. Performance of the air contacting system at the EERC matched results demonstrated in laboratory- and pilot-scale testing, validating Origen’s integrated direct air capture system at its largest scale to date.
“This project is exactly what the EERC was designed to enable: rigorous testing at scale, taking technologies from the lab to commercial readiness, and seamless teamwork across partner organizations,” said Charlie Gorecki, EERC CEO.
Building on this milestone, Origen is advancing engineering and project development with EPCM partner Hatch. Performance data from the EERC is a critical input to their pre-FEED (front-end engineering design), expected to conclude in early 2026. This work will provide refined process and facility design, along with a budgetary-quote-based cost estimate, for a first commercial facility designed to produce up to 300,000 tonnes of lime per year. In 2026, Origen plans to down-select a site and progress into detailed engineering, establishing a clear pathway to commercial deployment.
“Hatch has been proud to support Origen through testing and scale-up of their unique technology platform,” said Gino de Villa, Climate Tech Lead at Hatch. “With performance data now in hand, the focus shifts to optimizing the system for commercial scale, constructability, and long-term operation. We are excited to support Origen in bringing commercial facilities to life as a continued partner.”
Zero-emission lime offers a rare opportunity to address industrial emissions reduction and carbon removal through a single, scalable platform. As carbon removal expands toward a projected $1 trillion market, lime-enabled decarbonization could materially reshape cement, steel, and other hard-to-abate sectors while enabling new carbon capture pathways.
“Meeting the climate challenge will require new solutions that can scale now, using the infrastructure and resources available today,” Riddle-Turner added. “This milestone demonstrates that Origen’s technology can do exactly that.”
About Origen
Origen is a U.K.- and U.S.-based climate technology company building a limestone-based decarbonization platform anchored in zero-emission lime, an essential industrial material with unmatched potential to reduce emissions and remove carbon at scale. By integrating proven industrial processes with proprietary system design, Origen enables scalable, durable climate solutions that work with today’s infrastructure and supply chains. Origen’s mission is “The Atmosphere, Restored.” For more information about Origen, visit www.origencarbon.com.
About the Energy & Environmental Research Center
The Energy & Environmental Research Center is a global leader in researching and developing technologies that make energy production more efficient and environmentally friendly. The organization works with clients to provide practical solutions to real-world challenges. Utilizing decades of energy research, the EERC is a driving force for innovation and new opportunities in the energy industry.
About Hatch
Hatch is a global engineering, project delivery, and professional services firm. Whatever our clients envision, our teams can design and build. With over six decades of business and technical experience in the mining, energy, and infrastructure sectors, we know your business and understand that your challenges are changing rapidly. We respond quickly with solutions that are smarter, more efficient and innovative. We draw upon our 10,000 staff with experience in over 150 countries to challenge the status quo and create positive change for our clients, our employees, and the communities we serve.
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