Money does not like to wait, especially when it comes to technologies capable of changing the rules of the game in the energy sector. The Italian startup Energy Dome, which is developing a carbon dioxide-based energy storage system, is in advanced talks with European and American investors about raising several hundred million euros. This is not just another funding round — it is a bet that CO₂ can become not a waste product but a key element of the future energy system.
The company has already raised more than 200 million euros from solid players: the Breakthrough Energy Catalyst fund, associated with Bill Gates, the European Investment Bank, Italy's CDP, NEVA SGR from Intesa Sanpaolo, 360 Capital, A2A, Eni Next and Barclays. Now capital needs have grown because of the contracts signed. CEO Claudio Spadacini stated plainly at the opening of a new plant in Piacenza that capital requirements go far beyond the funds already raised. The talks are active, and the circle of investors is open to Europe and the United States.
The forecasts for 2026 are modest — revenue in the range of 30–40 million euros. On the other hand, long-term commercial contracts provide visibility of recurring revenue amounting to several billion euros. Energy Dome is investing in projects across Italy, including Sardinia, and plans to invest 6,5 million euros in expanding production in Piacenza by 2028. The number of employees will grow from 30 to 80–90 people. This is a classic scaling story: from a laboratory idea to industrial capacity.
Investors' interest is understandable. Energy storage is one of the bottlenecks of the green transition. Energy Dome's technology uses CO₂ in a closed cycle, avoiding scarce materials such as lithium. In a world where renewable sources are growing but are unstable, such solutions are becoming critically important. Institutional players see here not only environmental but also financial potential: long-term contracts turn the startup into a generator of stable cash flow.
At the same time, the company is not closing the door to an IPO. The timing and location of the listing — not necessarily Milan — will depend on market conditions and the makeup of new investors. This is a flexible strategy: raise capital now, and leave going public as an option. For investors, this is a signal — the company is ready for various monetization scenarios.
Ultimately, such rounds show how capital votes for specific technologies. Money goes where there are contracts, proven partners and a clear path to scale. For those who follow the market, this is a reminder: in the energy sector of the future, it is not only ideas that win, but also the ability to turn them into a sustainable business.
