Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund backs Value Group to drive development of CO2 hub

Value Group, the Netherlands-based sustainability innovation company uniting Value Maritime and Value Carbon, has secured a €2 million investment from Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund (ETF-R), a €100 million investment fund of the City of Rotterdam.

As informed, the fund’s investment will drive the further development of the Value Hub for CO₂ offloading and processing in Rotterdam.

Specifically, the technology captures CO₂, stores it, and allows it to be effectively reused or stored elsewhere. In the Port of Rotterdam, the maritime industry benefits from emissions reduction enabled by the technology.

Value Maritime is a developer and installer of one of the first commercially viable hybrid CO2 capture and exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as Filtree. This system not only captures and stores CO₂ but also cleans sulfur, ultra-fine particulate matter, and CO2 from ships’ exhaust emissions as well as oil residue and particulate matter from the vessels’ washing water. As a result, the Filtree system supports compliance with current and future environmental regulations.

Specifically, the key to the Filtree system is its integrated carbon capture feature which allows ships to store the CO2 they collect onboard in dedicated fixed tanks or non-fixed battery containers. These onboard storage facilities can then be sustainably offloaded in port for reuse or further storage, managed by Value Maritime’s sister company, Value Carbon.

To remind, the emission-reducing tech specialist Value Maritime launched last year Value Carbon to manage shore-based carbon handling, re-use and storage services for shipping companies and factories.

“With InnovationQuarter as a new shareholder, Value Group gains a strong strategic partner to accelerate the development of our Value Hub in Rotterdam for CO₂ offloading and processing. This partnership not only strengthens the realisation of this Value Hub as a blueprint for future Value Hubs but also drives the ongoing expansion and innovation of our patented Carbon Capture technology,” Maarten Lodewijks, Value Group Co-Founder and Director, commented.

With ETF-R’s €2 million investment and further active support from InnovationQuarter—the regional economic development agency for South Holland—Value Group aims to accelerate the development of its Value Hub which will manage the CO₂ offloading from ships and ensure efficient, sustainable processing.

Meanwhile, a pilot program in South Holland greenhouses demonstrates the technology’s practical application. Captured CO₂ is released during the day to enhance photosynthesis and plant growth, showcasing a sustainable solution for agriculture.

“We are very happy to be able to invest in a sustainable company that supports the reduction of CO₂ emissions in Rotterdam and beyond. Their innovative ‘catch & release’ technology perfectly aligns with our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable Rotterdam. They serve as a prime example of how carbon capture and storage technology can benefit this and other sectors. ETF-R is looking forward to helping Value Group grow,” Reinaud Struycken, InnovationQuarter/ ETF-R Senior Investment Manager, said.

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