Cool Planet Technologies announces a major milestone with successful full-scale testing of its third-generation membrane carbon‑capture module, paving the way for industrial deployment at a German cement plant and potentially transforming decarbonisation efforts in hard-to-abate sectors.
Cool Planet Technologies said it has successfully completed full-scale testing of its third‑generation membrane carbon‑capture module, a step the company describes as a key de‑risking milestone for industrial deployment.
According to the original report, tests at Cool Planet’s Grimsby facility in the UK demonstrated capture flow rates of up to 37,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of CO2 with recovery of about 95 per cent, closely matching the company’s predictive models and earlier pilot results. The programme included demonstration days attended by more than 20 industrial firms and bespoke trials with a European lime producer preparing to decarbonise one of its kilns. The company said the results show the full‑scale module retains the core performance measured at smaller scale and that the outcome “removes one of the major risks associated with scale‑up.”
The tested module is due to be installed at Holcim’s Höver cement plant in Germany as part of a 12‑month demonstration project. Cool Planet and Holcim have previously described the Höver programme as phased: an initial pilot completed in May 2022 produced useful operational data and high CO2 purities, and a larger Phase 2a commercial unit , which Cool Planet’s website says will capture roughly 10,000 tpa , is under construction and has received funding approval from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). The company states that Phase 2a will operate for 12 months before relocation for further trials and that further expansion scenarios discussed in earlier project materials envisaged higher capture scales , including hypothetical increments to 170,000 tpa and beyond , though those larger steps remain prospective and subject to separate approvals and financing.
Industry context underscores the significance of a compact membrane approach for hard‑to‑abate sectors. Cement, lime, steel and waste‑to‑energy plants face particular challenges for retrofit carbon capture because of space, integration complexity and cost. Industry data shows that technologies which can deliver high‑purity CO2 with rapid start‑up and modular footprints can materially lower barriers to deployment in existing plants. The company claims its membranes can deliver rapid responsiveness and reduced footprint compared with some conventional solvent systems.
Cool Planet’s technology traces technical roots to research at Helmholtz‑Zentrum Hereon, and the company has been building partnerships to commercialise the membranes. The firm has signed memoranda of understanding with industry players including Carmeuse Technologies and is working directly with Holcim on the Höver project. The company said the planned Höver demonstration will push its system to technology readiness level 8 if successful, providing full industrial validation under cement‑plant operating conditions.
While the test results reported by Cool Planet appear to validate modelled performance at the demonstrated scale, commercial roll‑out will depend on outcomes of the impending 12‑month Höver trial, wider permitting and financing, and how the membranes perform over extended continuous operation in cement and lime production environments. Speaking in previous project disclosures, Cool Planet highlighted the importance of regulatory funding such as the BMWK support for scaling; government backing and offtake or CO2 transport and storage arrangements will be important determinants of whether modular membrane systems can expand beyond demonstration sites into multi‑site industrial deployment.
For industrial decarbonisation professionals, the headline technical indicators from the Grimsby tests , 37,000 tpa capture capacity at c.95% recovery and alignment with predictive models , are encouraging. The sector will be watching the Holcim Höver demonstration for operational data on long‑term reliability, integration impacts on kiln performance, total cost of capture including balance‑of‑plant, and the practicalities of delivering captured CO2 to utilisation or storage chains.
- https://www.cemnet.com/News/story/180436/cool-planet-records-major-breakthrough-in-membrane-carbon-capture-scale-up.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.cemnet.com/News/story/180436/cool-planet-records-major-breakthrough-in-membrane-carbon-capture-scale-up.html – Cool Planet Technologies has announced successful testing of its third-generation carbon-capture membrane module, achieving capture flow rates of up to 37,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of CO₂ with recovery rates of 95%. This milestone validates the scalability and performance of the technology, closely matching predictive models and earlier pilot results. The tests demonstrate the potential for compact, lower-cost capture solutions in hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, lime, steel, and waste-to-energy. A series of demonstration days were held at the company’s Grimsby facility in the UK, where over 20 industrial companies observed the membrane system in operation. The tested module will now be installed at Holcim’s Höver cement plant in Germany as part of a 12-month demonstration project, expected to advance the technology to TRL8 and provide full industrial validation under cement-plant operating conditions.
- https://www.globalcement.com/news/item/19576-cool-planet-technologies-concludes-testing-of-membrane-module-carbon-capture-technology – Cool Planet Technologies has successfully tested its third-generation carbon capture membrane module at its Grimsby site. The test validated the scalability and performance of the company’s membrane process at flow rates of up to 37,000 tonnes per year of captured CO₂ and recovery rates of 95% CO₂. Further tests were also conducted with a lime manufacturer for a project which will use Cool Planet’s technology to decarbonise one of its kilns. The module will now be deployed at Holcim’s Höver cement plant in Germany for a 12-month demonstration project.
- https://coolplanettech.com/projects/cement-holcim/ – Cool Planet Technologies is adopting a phased approach for scaling membrane technology at the Höver plant: Phase 1 Pilot – Completed. This Phase of Cool Planet Technologies’ carbon capture project at Höver was completed in May 2022 and generated useful data for further calibrating Phase 2a of the project. The test unit delivered an excellent separation rate with high CO₂ purities. The unit also demonstrated its ability to start up and respond very quickly without any preliminary preparations. Phase 2a Commercial – Under Construction. Currently under construction, Phase 2a is a major scaling up of the technology capturing approximately 10,000 tonnes per year (tpa) of CO₂. This Phase has received funding approval from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (“BMWK”) as part of the “Decarbonisation in Industry” funding programme. This plant will have an active test programme and operate for 12 months before being relocated to another site outside Germany for further capture operations. Phase 2a is scheduled to commence operation in 2026.
- https://coolplanettech.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/21-10-04-Holcim-and-Cool-Planet-Technologies-to-Develop-Carbon-Capture-Plant-in-Germany.pdf – Cool Planet Technologies and Holcim have announced plans to develop a carbon capture plant at Holcim’s Höver cement plant in Germany. The project aims to capture 10,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of CO₂, with potential expansions capturing 170,000 tpa and 1.3 million tpa starting in 2024 and 2026, respectively. The final phase will capture over 90% of the carbon dioxide emissions from the Höver plant and deliver the CO₂ in high-purity liquid form for use or sequestration. The collaboration involves Cool Planet’s membrane technology, developed by Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, part of Germany’s largest research organisation.
- https://carboncapturemagazine.com/author/10519 – Cool Planet Technologies has announced successful testing of its third-generation carbon capture membrane module, demonstrating industrial-scale performance at capture rates of up to 37,000 tons of CO₂ per year with 95 percent recovery. The results confirm scalability, alignment with simulation models and readiness for integration into Holcim’s demonstration project in Germany. The achievement marks a significant step toward commercial deployment of lower-cost, high-efficiency carbon capture solutions.
- https://coolplanettech.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/23-08-07-German-State-Funding-Press-Release-Final.pdf – Cool Planet Technologies Limited has announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Carmeuse Technologies, a leading global manufacturer of lime, limestone, and mineral-based products, to collaborate on decarbonization technology developments, using Cool Planet’s advanced membrane-based carbon capture technology.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative was published on 11 December 2025. Similar reports appeared on 10 December 2025 in Global Cement ([globalcement.com](https://www.globalcement.com/news/item/19576-cool-planet-technologies-concludes-testing-of-membrane-module-carbon-capture-technology?utm_source=openai)) and on 9 December 2025 in Renewable Energy Magazine ([renewableenergymagazine.com](https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/miscellaneous/cool-planet-technologies-demonstrates-breakthrough-success-in-20251209?utm_source=openai)). The earliest known publication date is 9 December 2025. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative includes updated data but recycles older material, which may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
No direct quotes were identified in the narrative.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from CemNet, a reputable industry-specific publication. However, the report is based on a press release from Cool Planet Technologies, which may introduce potential biases.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about Cool Planet Technologies’ membrane carbon-capture module achieving capture flow rates of up to 37,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of CO₂ with recovery rates of 95% are plausible and align with industry standards. The narrative lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which is a concern. The language and tone are consistent with industry reporting.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative reports on Cool Planet Technologies’ recent testing of its third-generation carbon-capture membrane module. While the information is plausible and aligns with industry standards, the lack of supporting detail from other reputable outlets raises concerns about the narrative’s credibility. The reliance on a press release introduces potential biases, and the absence of direct quotes limits verification. Therefore, the overall assessment is OPEN with medium confidence.
