CO2 to Chemicals: Texas Startup & Ancient Bacteria
- Again, a German-Danish startup specializing in converting CO2 into valuable chemicals, is expanding it's operations with a new bioreactor plant in Texas.
- market has a high demand for their sustainably produced chemicals.
- Again's innovative CO2 fermenter technology aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from chemical production by as much as 80%.
Again, the Texas-based startup, is constructing a new bioreactor plant in Texas City, demonstrating a commitment to transforming CO2 into valuable commercial-grade chemicals. This groundbreaking facility will leverage ancient bacteria to convert captured CO2 emissions from a local refinery into sustainable acetate, a vital component in various industrial products. Again’s innovative technology, capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, marks a significant leap towards environmentally amiable chemical production and addresses the petrochemical industry’s ample carbon footprint. Wiht backing from global investments and a successful pilot plant already in operation, Again aims to meet the high demand for sustainable chemicals in the U.S. market,as well as reducing emissions. This news is hitting all the right news wires, and News directory 3 is keeping tabs. Discover what’s next as they expand their technology and capabilities.
Again Startup to Build CO2-Converting Bioreactor Plant in Texas
Updated May 26, 2025
Again, a German-Danish startup specializing in converting CO2 into valuable chemicals, is expanding it’s operations with a new bioreactor plant in Texas. The facility will be located in Texas City,a major petrochemical hub on the Gulf Coast managed by Diamond Infrastructure Solutions,a joint venture between Dow and Macquarie Asset Management.
Max Kufner, Again’s co-founder, stated that the U.S. market has a high demand for their sustainably produced chemicals. The new plant will capture CO2 emissions from a local refinery and, using millennia-old bacteria, transform it into commercial-grade acetate, a base chemical used in plastics, cosmetics, and paint.
Customary acetate production relies on fossil fuels. Again’s innovative CO2 fermenter technology aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from chemical production by as much as 80%. The company reports its process is also cost-competitive with traditional methods.
The petrochemical industry accounts for 4% of global GHG emissions, double that of air travel. Again opened its initial pilot plant in Copenhagen in 2023, capable of converting up to 1 ton of CO2 daily into acetate. With backing from a $47 million grant from the EU’s Horizon Europe initiative, Again is also constructing a facility in Norway.
Founded in 2021 by Kufner, Dr.Torbjørn Jensen, and Professor alex Nielsen, Again emerged from over a decade of research at the Technical University of Denmark. The company has raised $150 million to date, according to Dealroom.
Again has already commenced construction at the Diamond Texas City site, with the goal of beginning production within a year. The company is partnering with German chemicals distributor Helm to bring its low-carbon chemicals to market,targeting key industries in the region.
What’s next
Again plans to continue expanding its CO2 conversion technology and production capabilities, focusing on reducing the carbon footprint of the chemical industry and meeting the growing demand for enduring chemicals.