BlueShift has raised $2.1 million in pre-seed funding to advance its electrochemical technology for isolating critical minerals and capturing carbon from seawater. Investors, including ConocoPhillips Company, Ridgeline, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), are supporting the construction of BlueShift’s first pilot facility, which will demonstrate the potential for more sustainable mineral extraction.
The company’s process plays a role in securing domestic supplies of critical materials used in clean energy technologies, including electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
Operating from Greentown Labs and MIT’s The Engine accelerator, BlueShift is deploying its first pilot installation in Boston Harbor. The system processes alkaline industrial waste and seawater to isolate critical minerals using infrastructure at desalination and power plants. The same technology also extracts CO₂ from seawater as limestone, addressing ocean acidification.
The need for critical mineral extraction
Traditional mining practices for critical minerals and rare earth elements (REEs) have environmental drawbacks, including water pollution and ecosystem damage. However, these materials are essential for industries such as steel production and EV battery manufacturing, with demand expected to nearly triple by 2030.
With China currently dominating REE extraction and processing, there is growing interest in domestic alternatives that reduce environmental impact and supply chain dependencies.
BlueShift’s electrochemical approach is designed to make critical mineral recovery more efficient by avoiding high-energy processes and costly materials. Its modular system integrates with existing infrastructure, operating up to 10 times more efficiently than conventional electrochemical methods.
Advancing the energy transition
In addition to mineral extraction, BlueShift’s technology supports carbon dioxide removal from seawater, contributing to decarbonization efforts. Its Boston Harbor pilot facility is expected to increase CO₂ removal rates significantly within its first year.
The company’s business model includes revenue from critical minerals such as nickel, REE products like neodymium and dysprosium, carbon credits, and licensing opportunities for utilities and desalination plants. BlueShift has also secured suppliers for processing coal ash and olivine mining waste as feedstock for its extraction system.
As the company scales, funding will be used to refine production, expand its team, and advance key technical milestones. By leveraging electrochemical processes for mineral recovery and carbon removal, BlueShift is working to create a more sustainable approach to resource extraction.
Filed Under: Technology News