Aaron Fitzgerald from Mars Materials

Turning CO₂ into carbon fiber sounds like science fiction, but Aaron Fitzgerald and the crew at Mars Materials are making it happen. Their process creates carbon-negative acrylonitrile, the stuff that goes into everything from sleek carbon fiber to water filters and high-tech textiles and they’re doing it with big-name partners like NREL and Shell. Aaron talks about reshoring carbon fiber production to the U.S., cutting carbon from supply chains, and what it takes to build a climate-driven company from the ground up. It’s a mix of chemistry, entrepreneurship, and a clear vision for a more sustainable future.Click here to watch a video of this episode.Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.ioClick here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Energy Tech Nexus00:17 - Intro to Mars Materials03:48 - Aaron’s Background in Energy08:11 - Overview of Kairos Aerospace10:46 - Understanding Acrylonitrile14:33 - Acrylonitrile Production Process17:29 - The Sohio Process Explained22:04 - National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)24:40 - Tech Transfer from National Labs27:39 - Finding the Right Technology29:26 - Carbon180 Overview30:35 - Collaborating with Lawrence Livermore Lab32:19 - EnergyTechNexus Insights33:56 - LabStart Initiatives35:37 - Request for Information (RFI) Explained38:36 - Building a Business Deliberately41:15 - Mars Materials Today and Future48:30 - Fundraising Strategies52:40 - What's Next for Mars Materials54:45 - Erin's Shell Partnership Journey57:16 - Shell's Support for Erin1:00:11 - Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts1:03:44 - How to Help Mars Materials1:06:20 - Outrohttps://twitter.com/collide_iohttps://www.tiktok.com/@collide.iohttps://www.facebook.com/collide.iohttps://www.instagram.com/collide.iohttps://www.youtube.com/@collide_iohttps://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters