This month, we are proud to introduce our Market Analyst: Sanem Oral. Without her, we would be lost. Her expertise reveals untapped opportunities, directs our focus to high-potential regions, and sharpens our understanding of where to position ourselves for maximum impact. But we would also not have any snacks to keep us going... some nice dates to be more precise.

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We have asked her a few questions so you can catch a glimpse how our Market Analyst is doing at Skytree!

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Q: What was your first day at Skytree like?

It was positively surprising. As it was my first time working in a start-up and a hardware company, I knew that some things would be different - I just did not know what. There was definitely a lot of excitement on my side when I saw that my office would be down the hall from our labs - until then, I had not realized that I would be able to observe the technology up close whenever I wanted to! 

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Q: What do you enjoy the most about your work here at Skytree?

I have always been fascinated with science. So, even though I do not have a technical role, I love being part of a company that is defined by scientific and technical innovation. In my previous roles, it was not easy to engage with scientists and engineers, despite working on projects related to heavy industries, climate change, climate justice and the circular economy. Now, I have the privilege to work with a group of very friendly scientists and engineers, which has made certain types of knowledge and feedback more accessible to me. This type of communication ensures that the work I do at Skytree is science-approved. 

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Q: What keeps you motivated to work here at Skytree?

It’s been very interesting to have a career in an industry that is still in its earlier stages because you can easily see how your growth is linked with the growth of the technology and the industry. As my understanding of the carbon capture industry evolves, I can mirror these learnings - not just in my own company but in our entire value chain. Learning about an industry in real-time, and having the opportunity to use that knowledge to make an impact has been one of my main motivations. 

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Q: What makes you proud of being a part of Skytree?

There are people who talk about wanting change and those who drive the change; I am proud to say that Skytree is packed with the latter. Everyday, I get to see the team striving for impactful excellence, whether it be in our technology & operations, our communication & engagements, or our business model. 

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Q: What initially attracted you to Skytree?

My previous roles in sustainability were focused more on high level strategies and policies. Even though I was always working on topics related to climate mitigation and circular economy, I did not have any direct exposure to the technologies that will be driving this change. Thus, I wanted to switch to a tech company where I can get a better sense of the opportunities and barriers of commercializing an innovative and high-capex technology. Skytree crossed off a lot of the boxes; DAC’s a new technology that has been endorsed by the IPCC, it’s a fast growing company and its solution can support the circular economy in various industries. So, at the end of the day, it was an easy choice for me!

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Q: What is an issue that you see in the DAC ecosystem?

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding DAC and other technological carbon capture solutions. For instance, one question we frequently hear amongst the general public is ‘why not plant more trees?’, which is based on the fallacious assumption that each carbon removal credit has the same impact. We also hear of commitments and strategies that consider carbon removal solutions only for post-2040 residual emissions; this one wrongfully assumes that such removal technologies will be efficient and ready to be deployed by then without investing in them now. As an industry, we have a responsibility to educate our value chain and the public on these misinterpretations that can hinder growth. That is why the messages I want to emphasize the most are:

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      - DAC and carbon capture are one of many solutions in climate technology; they are not a one size fits all solution. In order to achieve climate targets, we will need to deploy a portfolio of solutions that have their unique pros and cons.
      - CO2 can be a valuable resource. It's existing role in CEA, water treatment and Food&Beverage sectors is evidence for this.
      - Innovation roadmaps are dependent on financing. To have a solution perfected by 2040, we need to start investing now. 

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Q: What do you think is the most exciting part of our future?

Technology is always evolving. In less than 20 years, we have seen so many products transform, such as phones, automobiles, cooking devices and health monitoring devices. After observing how demand has accelerated the evolution of these technologies, I am very curious to see whether carbon technologies will follow a similar pathway!

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Thank you Sanem for the quality work you provide! Skytree is lucky to have you.