Avnos, a global leader developing novel Hybrid Direct Air Capture (HDAC™) technology for carbon dioxide removal, today announced that the construction phase of its latest HDAC facility, Project Brighton, in Bridgewater, New Jersey, is underway. Funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research (ONR), Project Brighton is the latest addition to Avnos’ Technology Development Center, one of the world’s most advanced direct air capture (DAC) centers.
With construction now underway, Brighton will enable integrated technology development from laboratory innovation to commercial-scale deployment, all within a single location. By combining R&D, prototyping, and pilot-scale testing under one roof, Avnos’ Technology Development Center is designed to accelerate innovation and drive down costs – advancing Avnos’ mission to commercialize DAC technology at scale.
Brighton is located at 360 Milltown Road at Avnos’ existing R&D facility, which has been fully operational since early 2024. Avnos received formal approval by the Planning Board of Bridgewater, New Jersey earlier this year, to proceed with the Brighton project plan.
“This is the year of commercialization for Avnos, and Brighton represents a critical milestone at our Technology Development Center, one of the world’s first end-to-end direct air capture technology development facilities,” said Will Kain, Founder & CEO of Avnos. “This demonstration unit, alongside our labs, is poised to become a leading destination for industrial leaders from all over the world to see the latest advancements in direct air capture technology, putting Bridgewater on the map as the epicenter of DAC innovation.”
As Avnos continues to scale, community engagement remains central to the company’s mission. To date, 40% of Avnos’ workforce is based at its Bridgewater R&D hub. As the company continues to expand, it plans to source more local talent across various industries – from scientists to engineers and business professionals.
“As we rapidly commercialize our technology, Project Brighton provides us with the opportunity to test our HDAC process at commercial scale, in a real-world environment,” said Ben McCool, Senior Vice President of Technology at Avnos. “This facility will push the industry forward and accelerate the future of carbon removal. We’re excited to create jobs, attract talent, and provide long-term economic opportunities for Somerset County, and we couldn’t do it without the steadfast support we’ve seen from the local community.”
Project Brighton is expected to be fully operational in the summer of 2025. Avnos has seen strong demand for its HDAC solution. The company has secured multi-million-dollar contracts from the U.S. Department of Energy, is a selected tech provider for four US federally funded DAC hubs and is partnering with ONR to pilot DAC-sourced CO2 for production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
