Italian Startup Limenet Secures €7M to Revolutionize Lime Production and Cut Carbon Dioxide

Italian carbon removal startup Limenet has raised around €7 million in fresh funding to scale its operations. The investment comes from CDP Venture Capital SGR and building materials firm Fassa Bortolo. This latest round brings the company’s total capital to roughly €9.5 million since its launch just 18 months ago.

The funds will help Limenet build its first industrial production site in Sicily, marking a major step in its mission to decarbonise lime production.

Limenet was founded to tackle the heavy emissions from lime production, which contribute 5-8% of global carbon dioxide output. The company has developed a method that converts captured carbon dioxide into calcium bicarbonates, safely stored in ocean water. This approach not only cuts industrial emissions but also helps restore ocean alkalinity.

In a short time, the firm has moved from concept to operation, becoming the first Southern European company to sign a carbon removal prepurchase deal with Frontier buyers. Now, with the new funding, Limenet will expand into the Catania Free Trade Zone in Sicily. The site, located at the former Fiat factory in Termini Imerese, sits about 40 km east of Palermo.

The technology aims to turn lime production from a carbon source into a carbon sink. By scaling up, Limenet plans to make its process a key tool for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while meeting industrial demand for lime.

The €7 million investment will accelerate Limenet’s growth, allowing it to establish its first full-scale production facility. With operations set to begin in Sicily, the company is positioning itself as a leader in low-carbon lime production. The move could also set a precedent for industrial decarbonisation in Southern Europe.