Avantium spins out Volta into Carbeau, secures €35.2m
- Carbeau secured €35.2 million in total funding: €23.7 million cash from external investors and €11.5 million in-kind from Avantium.
- Avantium retains a 32.7% shareholding in the new company following the transaction.
- The spin-out took effect retrospectively from 1 April 2026 and is backed by GKT, Invest‑NL, Al Baleed Petrochemical (SFZ) and NOM alongside Avantium.
- Carbeau will scale an electrochemical CO₂-to-chemicals platform, initially targeting glycolic acid and PLGA, and plans a pilot plant in Delfzijl.
Transaction and financing
Avantium has spun out its electrochemical Volta Technology into a new independent company, Carbeau, with retrospective effect from 1 April 2026. Carbeau has secured €35.2 million in total funding, comprising €23.7 million cash from external investors and an €11.5 million in-kind contribution from Avantium.
Investor consortium and ownership
The external investor group combines industrial, financial and regional expertise: GKT (Austria) and Al Baleed Petrochemical (Oman) as strategic partners, and Invest‑NL and NOM as financial/regional backers. Avantium remains a significant shareholder with a 32.7% stake.
Technology and products
Carbeau commercialises an electrochemical platform that converts CO₂ into chemical building blocks using electricity, preferably from renewables. Initial product targets are glycolic acid for personal care and PLGA, a compostable plastic with strong barrier and marine degradability properties, positioned to be cost-competitive with fossil-based incumbents.
Operations and next steps
Headquartered at Amsterdam Science Park, Carbeau plans a pilot plant in Delfzijl to leverage the region’s industrial and CCU infrastructure. The company will be led by a management team experienced in technology development, scale-up and commercialization, while Avantium focuses on its renewable polymer activities and supports Carbeau as a significant shareholder.
Source: Avantium