Amazon’s carbon-removal breakthrough

Amazon announced, at its annual AWS conference—re:Invent 2024—that it’s partnered with Orbital Materials (a start-up, launched earlier this year, that develops decarbonization tech, using AI) to design, test, and develop tools and technologies that will increase data center carbon removal, chip cooling, and water utilization, helping it achieve its ‘net-zero by 2040’ target.

Orbital Materials, which is backed by Radical Ventures and AI chip maker, NVIDIA, has developed an AI platform—Orb AI—that has already, in under a year, enabled them to develop an AI-driven molecular sponge that efficiently captures carbon dioxide. Their AI platform has improved the material’s performance 10x because they’ve been able to speed up development and testing, which has traditionally been a slow trial-and-error process, meaning they’re able to make giant breakthroughs in materials discovery.  

"Together, we have the opportunity to set new benchmarks for carbon removal and efficiency across the industry.”

As part of the multi-year deal with Amazon, Orbital will provide its open-source AI model to AWS customers, enabling them to develop advanced materials and technologies, like batteries and semiconductors, meaning more widespread, accessible sustainable innovations will be produced, helping us, collectively, reach global sustainability targets.