Blue Carbon Headlines Hong Kong's Prestigious Belt & Road Summit

Brisbane climate tech company showcases wave-powered oPod™ to 6,000+ global infrastructure and policy leaders at premiere Belt and Road platform

HONG KONG  12 September 2024

Blue Carbon CEO Dr. Ana Novak was invited to present as a guest speaker at the 9th Belt and Road Summit, showcasing the company’s autonomous ocean technology to over 6,000 senior government officials and business leaders from more than 70 countries.

The invitation to speak at Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s flagship event, themed “Building a Connected, Innovative and Green Belt and Road”, positions Blue Carbon’s wave-powered carbon removal technology within the Belt and Road Initiative’s shift toward sustainable infrastructure and green innovation across participating nations.

Blue Carbon’s participation was facilitated by Trade and Investment Queensland, demonstrating the state government’s commitment to positioning Queensland ocean technology on international platforms.

Contemporary Silk Road for Knowledge and Innovation

The company presented its ambitious goal to capture 1 Gigaton of carbon from the ocean through its oPod™ technology, which combines marine ecosystem restoration with measurable carbon sequestration.

“We were honoured to participate in this summit, a contemporary version of the original Silk Road, where not only goods were traded, but the peaceful exchange of culture, knowledge and ideas,” said Dr. Ana Novak, CEO of Blue Carbon. 

Strategic Partnership with Hong Kong Carbon Trading Centre

A significant outcome of Blue Carbon’s participation was deepening its partnership with Dr. Felix Chung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Carbon Trading Centre (HKCTC).

Dr. Chung brings extensive experience from his role as Legislative Councillor in the HKSAR from 2012-2021.

Blue Carbon’s invitation reflects its strengthening international profile, with its technology aligning with Hong Kong’s drive to invest in climate technology and sustainable marine industries. 

Technology Demonstration and Commercial Readiness

Blue Carbon used the Summit platform to announce progress on oPod 002, the company’s second-generation autonomous wave-powered ocean pump, which was scheduled for real-world ocean deployment within weeks of the Summit. 

oPod™ technology addresses multiple infrastructure challenges relevant to Belt and Road development:

• Water infrastructure: Sustainable desalination support and zero-emission brine management for coastal infrastructure projects
• Food Security: Offshore aquaculture enhancement without diesel-powered systems, supporting regional protein production objectives
• Climate Resilience: Coral reef cooling capabilities for marine tourism and coastal protection assets
• Carbon Markets: Measurable marine carbon removal with comprehensive monitoring, reporting, and verification for carbon credit generation

About the 9th Belt and Road Summit

The Belt and Road Summit, jointly organized by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, has served since 2016 as the premier platform for Belt and Road business collaboration. The 2024 Summit attracted close to 6,000 participants from over 70 countries and regions, facilitating concrete partnerships and business matching across infrastructure, technology, finance, and sustainable development sectors.

About Blue Carbon

Founded in 2022, Blue Carbon is a Brisbane-based climate tech company led by Dr. Ana Novak—a Eureka Prize finalist with deep Defence, Systems and Operations Research expertise. Blue Carbon has developed the world’s first commercial artificial upwelling platform, oPod™: autonomous, wave-powered ocean pumps that restore ecosystems, capture carbon, and enable sustainable marine industries.