Hürth, Germany | May 7, 2025 – The “Best CO₂ Utilisation 2025” Innovation Award celebrated breakthrough solutions turning emissions into high-value products at the 13th CO₂-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference.
Top honors went to UP Catalyst (Estonia) for its low-energy process that converts CO₂ into battery-grade graphite and carbon nanotubes using molten salt electrochemical conversion—achieving up to 20x energy savings over traditional methods.
Second place was awarded to Far Eastern New Century (FENC) of Taiwan for creating the world’s first CO₂-based, non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) for textiles and footwear—cutting CO₂ emissions by 58% compared to traditional TPU production.
Third place went to Oxylus Energy (USA) for its electrochemical reactor that turns industrial CO₂ into green methanol using only renewable electricity and water—offering a carbon-negative, cost-competitive alternative for aviation, shipping, and chemicals.
The awards, organized by nova-Institut and CO₂ Value Europe, spotlight the growing importance of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) in building a circular, fossil-free economy.