- Deep Branch has secured £4.8m in funding from the UK government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy£1 billionNet Zero Innovation Portfolio.
- The funding will be used to finance the Deep Blue C project, accelerating the company’s growth as it commercialises its CO2-to-protein technology platform.
- Deep Branch expects its first commercial production unit for its single-cell proteinProton™ to go live in 2027
NOTTINGHAM, UK – Deep Branch, a creator of sustainable, high-value food and feed ingredients, has secured £4.8m in funding from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio. The funding is part of the £20 million Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) Innovation 2.0 programme aimed at accelerating the deployment of next-generation CCUS technology in the UK.
The funding will be used to finance the Deep Blue C project, which will integrate carbon capture and low-carbon hydrogen ecosystems. Deep Blue C signifies an acceleration in Deep Branch’s growth as it commercialises its CO2-to-protein technology platform. Executing the project will enable the company to reduce the cost of design optimisations, lower capital expenditure and the cost of goods sold for its core fermentation process and improve downstream processing.
Deep Branch secured the funding in partnership with CPI, a leading independent deep tech innovation organisation that collaborates with partners in industry, academia, government and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products. The two partners have jointly developed a robust basis of safety for the process, which is already operating at a pilot scale.
Once the Deep Blue C project is completed, Deep Branch will deliver a feasibility study for its first commercial production unit for its single-cell protein Proton™, which is planned to go live in 2027. Deep Branch is planning multiple additional Proton™ production facilities, with an anticipated 600,000 tonnes per annum global capacity by 2030, utilising over one million tonnes of CO2 every year.
Commenting on securing the BEIS funding, Deep Branch’s CEO Pete Rowe said:
“This grant builds on our Innovate UK funded project, which has enabled us to develop strong commercial partnerships at both ends of the value chain. These include Drax Power Group at its biomass power station and leading sustainable aquafeed producer BioMar.”
“Deep Blue C will result in a significant increase in the production efficiencies of Proton™. By reducing production costs as we scale, Proton™ will ensure a highly significant saving in carbon footprint for feed producers that switch from concentrated soybean meal or fishmeal, without an unjustifiable price premium.”
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Hands commented:
“As we accelerate the UK’s energy independence by boosting clean, home-grown, affordable energy, it’s crucial that our industries reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. This investment will help them to not only cut emissions but also save money on energy bills, on top of supporting jobs by encouraging green innovation across the UK.”
Yvonne Armitage, Biotechnology Director at CPI, added:
“We’re excited to build on our solid working relationship with Deep Branch and collaborate with the company’s experts to develop new technology that will ultimately improve the health of our planet. We will bring a wealth of technical support to the Deep Blue C project, having supported many biotech companies to deliver incredible innovation projects.”
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About Deep Branch:
Deep Branch creates sustainable, high-value food and feed ingredients to support a more sustainable food system. The company’s proprietary [platform name] technology uses CO2 and hydrogen as clean and renewable carbon and energy sources to deliver next-generation bio-based products.
Founded in 2018, Deep Branch has approximately 30 staff based in the UK and the Netherlands. It works with feed producers in industries such as aquaculture and partners with upstream companies such as CO2 suppliers to deploy its technology efficiently and safely. Deep Branch has already established relationships with major international stakeholders, including Drax, BioMar and Sainsbury’s.
For more information, visit: https://deepbranch.com/
About CPI:
CPI takes great ideas and inventions, and makes them a reality. Born in the North East of England in 2004, CPI is an independent deep tech innovation organisation and a founding member of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
CPI’s team of intelligent people use advances in science and technology to solve the biggest global challenges in healthcare and sustainability. Through incredible people and innovation infrastructure, CPI collaborates with partners in industry, academia, government, and the investment community to accelerate the development and commercialisation of innovative products.
CPI’s work ranges from health technologies, advanced drug delivery systems, and medicines manufacturing innovations for multiple modalities including small molecules, biologics, and nucleic acids; to developing sustainable materials for energy storage and packaging, as well as novel food, feed, and nutraceuticals, that are all underpinned by digital technology. CPI turns the entrepreneurial spirit and radical thinking of its people and partners into incredible impact that makes our world a better place.
Let’s innovate together: https://www.uk-cpi.com/
About the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Leading economy-wide transformation by backing enterprise and long-term growth, generating cheaper, cleaner, homegrown energy and unleashing the UK as a science superpower through innovation.
This funding has been made available from the government’s £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio, which looks to accelerate the commercialisation of low-carbon technologies and systems.
For more information, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-business-energy-and-industrial-strategy
