The California-based emissions capture and control company, STAX Engineering, has obtained $70 million in funding to expand its carbon capture operations into European and UK markets. Spearheaded by Firstime Credit and Deutsche Bank Private Credit & Infrastructure, this investment will support STAX’s objective of capturing 1% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through regulatory compliance.
This funding round consists of $60 million in debt financing and $10 million secured through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE). It will enable the company to scale its emissions control systems and launch new carbon capture trials in collaboration with Seabound, a carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology provider. Current trials, underway at the Port of Los Angeles, integrate Seabound’s compact capture system with STAX’s mobile emissions units, which capture and store CO2 and sulphur before releasing purified exhaust gas. According to STAX, with early results indicating strong feasibility, full-scale deployment is expected by late 2025.
From 1 January 2025, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) expanded at-berth emissions regulations to include container ships, roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessels, and tankers. Compliance with these regulations requires ships to connect to shore power or adopt alternative emissions reduction technologies, making STAX’s solution an attractive option. Since its launch in early 2024, STAX has serviced over 13,000 at-berth vessel hours and captured 100 tonnes of pollutants.
STAX intends to expand into European and UK markets due to emissions regulations tightening in these regions. Under the Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Directive (AFID), major European ports are required to provide onshore power supply by 2029, while FuelEU Maritime mandates certain vessels to connect to shore power from 2030. Born out of this increasing regulatory pressure, STAX has secured multi-year contracts with major maritime companies ZIM and K-Line, adding to existing partnerships with Shell, NYK Line, Hyundai GLOVIS, Toyota, and Olympus.
STAX Engineering’s CEO, Michael Walker, commented on the latest round of funding: ‘This investment marks a pivotal moment for both our company and the maritime industry. Our partnerships with Seabound, ZIM, and K-Line reflect the increasing demand for emissions capture technology as global regulations tighten. Through these collaborations, we are accelerating our vision to capture 1% of global emissions and set a new standard for carbon capture adoption across shipping.’
