Episode 59 is with Rory Brown, Co-Founder & CEO at Airhive

In this episode, Na’im speaks with Rory about his journey into carbon removal technology with a focus on direct air capture (DAC). Other major themes include the importance of financing, the policy landscape for carbon removal in different regions, and the need for transparency about DAC costs.In this episode, Na’im and Rory discuss:

* Rory’s transition to climate and DAC

* The founding and growth of Airhive, including their technology and team

* Key features and operational efficiency of Airhive’s DAC technology

* The operational progress of their 1,000 tonne per year commercial demonstrator in Alberta, Canada

* The main barriers to scaling DAC and how Airhive addresses these challenges

* The complexity and transparency issues around the cost of DAC

* Future projections and cost reduction goals for DAC technology

* The benefits and opportunities of deploying DAC technology in Alberta, Canada

* The role of policy in shaping the global development of carbon removal technologies

* Airhive’s plans for future projects, including CO2 supply for industrial processes and further R&D advancements

Relevant Links:

* Airhive - Website

* List of Airhive’s current and upcoming projects - Webpage

* The launch of Airhive’s operation at Deep Sky Alpha - Article

* More details and registration for Carbon Removal Day 2026 (in-person only)

About Rory Brown and Airhive:

Rory is the CEO of Airhive, which he co-founded in 2022 after nearly a decade and a half in international affairs. Airhive is a London, England-based DAC developer. Founded in 2022 by Rory and CTO Dr. Jasper Wong, Airhive are a team of 15 engineers and operators with active pilot and commercial projects in the UK, Canada, EU and Asia-Pacific. An XPRIZE Carbon Removal Finalist, they recently announced they have begun capturing CO2 from their 1,000 tonne per year commercial demonstrator at the Deep Sky Alpha facility in Alberta, Canada.

This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.

This episode was created and published by Na’im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.

Na’im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is on the advisory board of the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative and Terraset, and a former policy fellow with Elemental Impact. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na’im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.

Tank Chen is the Head of Content and Community at CDR.fyi, a public benefit corporation dedicated to accelerating carbon removal through transparency. He is also the co-founder of CDRjobs, a career platform for the carbon removal industry. Based in Taiwan, Tank is a carbon removal advocate focused on educating policymakers, corporate leaders, and the public on the importance of carbon removal, using data-driven insights to support communication and policy advocacy.

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