Author: sHq_LoGiNz

DUISBURG, Germany, Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Factor2 Energy, a German (Duisburg) company with a novel approach to geothermal energy, today announced the successful completion of its seed funding round, raising US$9.1 million in venture capital.

The round was led by At One Ventures, with additional investments from High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), Gründerfonds Ruhr, Verve Ventures and Siemens Energy Ventures.

Factor2 Energy will use the seed funding to advance the technological development of its CO₂-based geothermal power generation system and to develop a pilot power plant to demonstrate scalability.

Factor2 Energy is led by Michael Wechsung, Joerg Strohschein and Felix Boehmer who all worked together at Siemens Energy. There they invented a new, economically superior method to harness geothermal energy by utilizing CO₂ as the primary working fluid in the geothermal cycle, replacing water or brine.

Kendra Rauschenberger, General Partner at Siemens Energy Ventures, stated, “I am pleased to see this technology progressing toward commercialization, following its development within Siemens Energy Ventures. Geothermal energy is a reliable and renewable power source, and we will work with Factor2 Energy to tailor our turbines to meet the specific needs of this emerging market.”

How it Works: Clean Energy from Stored CO₂ – Safe, Scalable, and Sustainable

The technology can be deployed at either natural CO2 Reservoirs or at reservoirs designated for Carbon Capture and Storage. The (naturally occurring or captured) CO₂ is injected into deep, porous geological formations, where it is securely stored. As it absorbs geothermal heat from the surrounding rock, its density decreases, initiating a buoyancy-driven circulation known as the thermosiphon effect. As a result, the CO₂ rises naturally to the surface via production wells, eliminating the need for subsurface pumps and significantly reducing parasitic energy consumption and mechanical complexity.

At the surface, the heat is converted into electricity using a direct driven CO₂ turbine system. After expansion, the CO₂ is cooled, reinjected into the reservoir, creating a closed cycle that enables continuous power generation while maintaining long-term CO₂ storage.

Compared to conventional water-based geothermal systems, this approach can achieve up to twice the power output under similar geological conditions, while requiring lower capital expenditures (CAPEX).

“Our approach enables emission-free, efficient, and baseload-capable electricity production, which is ideal for traditional oil and gas companies looking to diversify their operating assets,” said CEO and co-founder Felix Boehmer. “And in fact, the entire system leverages proven technologies from the oil and gas sector, with its long history of drilling and geologic expertise.”

Siting Simplicity: More Location Options and Operational Ease

Besides delivering reliable, 24/7 green power, the use of CO₂ enables access to a broader range of geological sites, unlocking heat from locations unsuitable for conventional geothermal systems.

Using CO₂ allows Factor2 Energy to tap into shallower and cooler geothermal sites, reducing drilling costs and expanding the range of viable power plant locations. The system operates efficiently where conventional geothermal fails, offering competitive Levelized Cost of Electricity. It also eliminates the need for secondary fluids or complex binary systems, simplifying operations. And, by leveraging both geological formations designated for CO₂ storage (CCS) and natural CO₂ reservoirs, Factor2 Energy can transform these into active energy assets.

Helen Lin, Partner at At One Ventures comments: “As a cornerstone for enabling broader electrification, the need for cost-effective baseload power has never been more urgent. The fluid physics of CO₂ as a geothermal working fluid enables a 2x increase in power output while operating at the same depths/temperatures as conventional geothermal, translating to efficiencies in both capex and opex. These technoeconomics combine to form a favorable LCOE at sites that would previously have been economically unviable. We are excited to support Factor2 to bring this crucial technology to market to unlock the potential of geothermal as a more prevalent source of green baseload”

Timo Bertsch, Investment Manager at HTGF comments: “We invested in Factor2 Energy because their innovative technology dramatically expands global geothermal potential and uniquely enables the transformation of CCS sites into energy-generating power plants. Their successful proof of concept in a geologically complex environment demonstrates the robustness and scalability of their approach. We believe Factor2 Energy is well positioned to play a pivotal role in the global energy transition.”

About Factor2 Energy

Factor2 Energy is a German climate-tech company developing CO₂-based geothermal power systems. By using carbon dioxide as the working fluid, the technology accesses moderate-temperature geothermal resources. Compared to conventional systems, the technology can deliver up to twice the power output, without fracking, ultra-deep drilling, or water-intensive processes. Founded by a former Siemens Energy team after a successful proof of concept, the company is backed by leading climate investors, with its latest round led by At One Ventures. Factor2 Energy’s mission is to unlock scalable, clean, baseload geothermal power while supporting permanent carbon storage.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2774324/Factor2_Energy_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE Factor2 Energy

* Company unveils the most cost-efficient DAC system to commercialize carbon removal for e-fuels and CO2 sequestration operators

* The modular, mass-manufacturable unit cuts energy costs by 50%, while helping unlock $4B in frozen carbon credits

* Early investors include early Discord investor Peter Relan, Silver Lake Partners co-founder Dave Roux, and Jane Woodward of WovenEarth Ventures

PALO ALTO, Calif., Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — DACLab, a climate-tech startup developing the lowest-energy direct air capture (DAC) system to date, today emerged from stealth with a $3 million seed round and the launch of its first commercial product at their flagship “Ctrl+Alt+DAC” event. The round was led by Peter Relan, founder of YouWeb Incubator and early investor in Discord, with participation from Silver Lake co-founder Dave Roux, Jane Woodward of Woven Earth Ventures, and other prominent climate and deeptech investors.

“When I saw how many direct air capture solutions were making bold but unrealistic claims, I set out to back a system that could scale technically and economically,” said Peter Relan, founder of YouWeb Incubator and lead investor in DACLab. “By pairing low-temperature TVSA chemistry with affordable, mass-manufacturable hardware, DACLab is raising the bar for carbon removal. Their system can deliver capture at $500/tonne today at 10,000-tonne scale, with a path to $250/tonne at the hundreds of thousands scale… all without subsidies. It is a practical, market-ready solution for developers in the e-fuels space or for developers aiming for large-scale sequestration, and selling into both voluntary and compliance carbon markets.”

Unlocking Billions of Dollars in Carbon Credits Through Clean Energy Innovation

An estimated $4 billion in voluntary carbon credits are currently stalled due to the lack of scalable DAC technologies. At the same time, the carbon removal market is projected to grow to $125 billion annually by 2035, as e-fuels present another major growth opportunity (projected to reach $66B by 2030), driven by increasing demand for sustainable energy solutions. With the current U.S. administration’s focus on affordable and reliable energy supply, DACLab’s innovation is well poised to address the bottleneck of current solutions.

DACLab’s team brings decades of experience, having used the same materials in a point source capture project in collaboration with an international oil and gas firm (Shell). DACLab’s unique “moving‑bed” design physically decouples adsorption and desorption phases. This parallel, sorbent‑transport approach maximizes both phases independently, ensuring minimal pressure drop during capture and uniform heating during regeneration. This process leads to the lowest proven total energy demands in the DAC industry, well below 1800 kwh per tonne of CO2 captured from the atmosphere.

“Our modular series of products named ‘Kelvin’ plug right in, and create new revenue streams, whether for SAF production, feedstock for carbon utilization pathways, or even pure sequestration,” said Aditya Bhandari, co-founder and CEO of DACLab. “By focusing on process engineering and iterating over multiple different prototypes we were finally able to develop a breakthrough DAC architecture that decouples adsorption and regeneration processes to capture CO₂. This helped us achieve incredible efficiencies and reduce energy needs by almost 50 percent when compared to conventional DAC systems.”

Key features of DACLab’s system include:

• The patented process has been tested for more than 2000 hours on two 100-tonne per year pilots.
• Operates at temperatures as low as 70°C, enabling usage of low-grade industrial waste heat
• The process also focuses on protecting adsorbent lifetime, thereby reducing operating costs.
• Modular, mass-producible units offer a near drop-in solution for operators looking at a faster path to profit with rapid deployment and scaling

Commercial Traction and Early Successful Pilots

DACLab’s patent-pending process uses a Temperature Vacuum Swing Adsorption (TVSA) cycle that regenerates sorbents at far lower temperatures than typical DAC systems that need over 100 °C, opening new paths for integration into existing energy infrastructure.

After four years of engineering and research development, the company was awarded a grant to deliver a “Kelvin Pod“(100 tons per year system). The company has now set its sights on securing programs with a leading CO2 sequestration operator and an aviation fuel producer to deliver “Kelvin Modules” (1000 ton per year systems).

“This development represents a significant step forward for direct air capture. With its ultra-low-temperature regeneration, low-energy requirements, and a design that scales, DACLab has addressed most of the major hurdles. This innovation is timely as the market transitions from costly pilots to industrial-scale deployment,” said Klaus Lackner, DACLab advisor and founding director of the Center for Negative Carbon Emissions.

“We’ve solved the energy puzzle with one of the world’s most efficient DAC systems,” said Samip Bhavsar, co-founder and COO. “Now, working alongside our product design and manufacturing partners we are ramping up our focus to solve the next puzzle to optimize CapEx. Our goal is to deploy the most economical DAC units at scale, making cost-effective carbon removal accessible and profitable to every project developer worldwide.”

About DACLab
DACLab is revolutionizing direct air capture with the industry’s lowest temperature and energy requirements. Its asset-light business model, cost effective patent pending technology, scalable modular unit design and experienced team enable rapid deployment at large scale carbon utilization sequestration projects globally. To learn more, visit https://www.daclab.us.

Eric Gonzalez
Media Contact
VSC for DACLab
daclab@vsc.co

This release was issued through WebWire®. For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com.

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SOURCE DACLab

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Run Nash announced that First Horizon Bank (NYSE: FHN) has returned as the Title Sponsor of the 2025 Nashville Half Marathon & 5K, reinforcing a long-standing partnership that celebrates active lifestyles and community pride in Music City.

The 2025 race will once again showcase a vibrant downtown experience, welcoming runners and walkers from across the country for a fast, scenic tour of Nashville’s most iconic streets and neighborhoods.

“We are thrilled to be returning as the presenting sponsor of the Nashville Half Marathon, which not only celebrates the spirit of endurance and community but also promotes health and wellness. At First Horizon, we believe in investing in our community and supporting initiatives that inspire people to lead active and fulfilling lives,” said Carol Yochem, Central Region President First Horizon Bank

“The Nashville Half Marathon & 5K is more than a race, it’s a celebration of our city’s energy, music and community spirit,” said Malain McCormick, Owner of Run Nash. “With First Horizon’s continued partnership, we’re able to elevate every aspect of the participant experience, from the course to the finish line, and ensure that this event remains a fall tradition that both locals and visitors look forward to year after year.“

Registration is open now for both distances. For details on pricing tiers, course information and volunteer opportunities, visit RunNash.com.

About First Horizon
First Horizon Corporation (NYSE: FHN), with $82.1 billion in assets as of June 30, 2025, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states concentrated in the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, and mortgage services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation’s best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank.

About Run Nash
Run Nash produces destination running events that highlight the best of Music City through thoughtfully designed courses and unforgettable race-day experiences. With a focus on community, hospitality, and participant service, Run Nash invites athletes of all levels to discover Nashville one mile at a time. Learn more at RunNash.com.

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SOURCE First Horizon Bank

Consumers to Choose Top Zero-Emission Vehicles Celebrating the Future of Clean Mobility and Highlighting Unprecedented Showcase of Five Different Awards Programs at the 2025 LA Auto Show

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Categories are set and voting opens October 1 for the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show® Zero-Emission Vehicle Award Showcase, The ZEVAS™, celebrating the future of clean mobility by recognizing the power of consumer preference. The unique people’s choice award is one of several key industry honors to be highlighted at the show this year, demonstrating its role as the ultimate forum for automotive discovery and decision making.

“The ZEVAS give customers a powerful voice in recognizing the vehicles that truly deliver on their expectations for technology and performance, underscoring how consumers are driving the shift to zero-emission transportation,” said Terri Toennies, president of the Los Angeles Auto Show and AutoMobility LA.

Alongside The ZEVAS, the Hispanic Motor Press, will name the Best Vehicles of 2025 for Hispanic families, while the North American Car, Truck, and Utility Vehicle of the Year (NACTOY) will reveal its 2026 finalists.

In addition, the Automotive Hall of Fame will recognize its Distinguished Service recipients, and the new Angel Custom Car Award presented by No No Seat Covers will invite fans to vote onsite for standout custom builds, with the winner revealed on Sunday, November 23.

Established by the LA Auto Show in 2021, The ZEVAS provide an unmatched forum to showcase the advancements and innovations that shape today’s buyer interests, influence purchase behavior, and enhance overall driver satisfaction. Zero-emission vehicles have been part of the Los Angeles show since the first exhibition, held in 1907, which featured two electric vehicles on the show floor.

Past award winners include groundbreaking models like the Rivian R1S, Hyundai IONIQ 5, Tesla Model 3, Lucid Air, Ford F-150 Lightning, Ferrari SF90 Stradale, and Hyundai Kona Electric.

Voting for The ZEVAS takes place entirely online at thezevas.com, allowing thousands of enthusiasts, influencers, and active car buyers from around the world to cast their vote.

Eligible vehicles include production models available in 2025 as well as the “Most Anticipated” category featuring concepts and pre-production models. Last year’s awards saw category winners chosen from an initial pool of more than 130 qualifying vehicles.

The categories for the ZEVAS 2025 are:

• Top Compact/Coupe
• Top Crossover/Van
• Top Hybrid
• Top Sedan
• Top SUV
• Top Truck
• Most Anticipated

AutoMobility LA and the Los Angeles Auto Show are also set to spotlight the growing influence of automotive creators, with a new awards program recognizing some of the industry’s most notable personalities. More details on this and other awards at the show will be unveiled in the weeks ahead.

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW & AUTOMOBILITY LA:

Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto Show® is one of the most influential annual automotive events in the world. Held each year at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the show draws hundreds of thousands of attendees and brings hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact to the city. It also remains the largest revenue driver for the LA Convention Center.

The LA Auto Show is open to the public for ten full days from Opening Day November 21 until November 30, including Thanksgiving Day. Car shoppers, enthusiasts, families, and future-focused fans are invited to attend to experience the very best in automotive design, culture, and innovation.

AutoMobility LA® — the show’s press and industry day — takes place this year on November 20, 2025, and features a full day of vehicle debuts, brand announcements, and a thought leadership program highlighting some of the brightest voices in automotive and tech.

Stay up to date with the latest show news, updates, and information at laautoshow.com and automobilityla.com. 

BUY TICKETS TO VISIT THE SHOW

Tickets are on sale now at laautoshow.com/tickets and include access to all exhibits and test drive experiences. Pricing is as follows: 

• Opening Day Friday (November 21st): Adult $18, Senior $8, Child $8
• Any Day General Admission Tickets: Adult $25, Senior $12, Child $12
• Weekday Monday to Thursday (November 24-27): Adult $22, Senior $10, Child $10
• VIP Priority Entry + Ticket on Saturdays and Sundays: Adult $45, Senior $22, Child $22
• VIP Guided Tours on Select Days: Adult $95 Child $45
• Wednesday/Thursday Thanksgiving Family Four-Packs: $63 

MEDIA CONTACT

For press inquiries, email media@laautoshow.com

For the latest updates on vehicle debuts, special programming, and daily schedules, follow the LA Auto Show on Instagram, X, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Sign up for alerts at laautoshow.com.

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SOURCE Los Angeles Auto Show