Australian climate tech company Bygen is trialling its innovative activated carbon process in Vietnam after winning its category in a major net zero competition.
The grant money will be used to fund the construction of a relocatable pilot plant, local support, and laboratory analysis before the pilot is sent to several sites in late 2025.
Melbourne-based Bygen produces granular and powdered activated carbon products. Known for its versatility, activated carbon is one of the most efficient and reliable adsorbers of organic contaminants, trusted for its high performance across a range of industries.
After winning the Circular Economy and Waste Management category in Vietnam’s annual Net Zero Challenge late last year, the company received US$196,000 ($300,000) in prize money.
Bygen will use the funds to pilot its solution in Vietnam. It is assessing multiple sources of agricultural and forestry residues to determine which two are most suitable to produce activated carbon.
Bygen was the only Australian company among the nine finalists.
Bygen started focusing on Southeast Asia as a market to operate back in 2023. Major markets include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
According to Austrade, Southeast Asia has large volumes of the raw materials needed for Bygen’s patented process to be effective.
It also represents a growing market for activated carbon, as governments focus on improving drinking water and environmental remediation.
Bygen CEO Cameron Griffiths says Southeast Asia and Vietnam in particular, offers a strong alignment between growing industrial demand and a deepening commitment to sustainability.
“Vietnam’s proactive climate goals and expanding water treatment infrastructure make it a natural fit for Bygen’s low-emissions activated carbon. Across the region, there is increasing interest in sustainable, locally sourced solutions that reduce reliance on international supply chains and lower greenhouse gas emissions,” says Griffiths.
“This creates opportunities for us to deliver both environmental and commercial value.”
The Net Zero Challenge aims to discover new solutions that show strong potential to address Vietnam’s climate challenges. The challenge had a total prize pool of US$590,000 and attracted close to 500 applications from 55 countries.
Bygen manufactures its activated carbon at plants in Australia and internationally. The company has commissioned its largest LTA plant to date in South Australia. It is also building full-scale plants in Malaysia and the US.
Activated carbon can be used to remediate soil, treat drinking water, recover gold and remove undesirable odours, colours and tastes from food, among other applications. It is used by the water filtration, air purification, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and manufacturing industries.
Unlike other producers that use materials like wood, coal or coconut shells, Bygen uses high-carbon content nut shells (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts) and sustainable forestry materials.
These organic materials are processed using a proprietary low-temperature technique that significantly reduces energy use and carbon emissions compared to traditional activated carbon production methods.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Austrade & Bygen
