CO₂ to Ethylene with Alex Ip, CERT Systems

What do bananas, shampoo bottles, clothes and aviation fuel have in common? Ethylene. It is one of industry’s most useful building-block molecules, and today it is largely made from fossil feedstocks. In this episode of Bite-Size Climate Tech, I speak with Alex Ip, Co-founder & CEO of CERT Systems, about a different route: using CO₂, water and electricity to make ethylene through direct CO₂ electrolysis. Alex explains the science with Lego blocks and an “electrolyser sandwich,” then we get into the Season 5 question: why could this be good business? We talk about why making the same drop-in molecule matters for existing industrial processes, modular production, moving from lab proof towards commercial demonstration, the pathway towards cost competitiveness, and what winning Tencent CarbonX could unlock for CERT. And underneath all of it is a bigger idea: future generations shouldn’t have to give up useful materials, mobility or quality of life to solve climate change. The challenge is finding a better way to make them. 🎙️ Bite-Size Climate Tech Season 5: Climate Tech Is Just Good Business Learn more about CERT Systems: https://co2cert.com/ Explore Bite-Size Climate Tech: https://www.dayzeroproduction.com/bite-size-climate-tech Support Season 5: https://www.dayzeroproduction.com/bite-size-climate-tech/support