In an effort to combat climate change, Google and several other prominent companies have invested in a plan to trap carbon dioxide using rocks. This initiative involves a startup called Terradot, which has secured multimillion-dollar deals with these companies to remove 90,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
The Deals
Google, H&M Group, and Salesforce are among the companies that collectively agreed to pay Terradot $27 million to remove 90,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This deal was brokered by Frontier, a carbon removal initiative led by Stripe, Google, Shopify, and McKinsey Sustainability.
Separately, Google announced its own deal with Terradot to purchase an additional 200,000 tons of carbon removal. Although the company declined to disclose the cost of this deal, it is estimated that if the price is similar to the Frontier agreement ($300 per ton of CO2 captured), it could add up to $60 million.
The Strategy
Terradot uses a strategy called enhanced rock weathering (ERW) to trap carbon dioxide. This process involves accelerating a natural process that would normally take thousands of years to occur. Rainfall naturally "weathers" or breaks down rocks, releasing calcium and magnesium and triggering a chemical reaction that traps CO2 in water as bicarbonate.
The Benefits
Terradot’s approach has several benefits. Firstly, it is a relatively low-tech solution compared to other carbon removal strategies. Secondly, the use of basalt from quarries in southern Brazil allows farmers to manage soil pH levels while removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
The startup has partnered with Brazil’s agricultural research agency (EMBRAPA) to deploy this strategy on over one million hectares of land. The hot and humid climate in Brazil also helps to speed up the weathering process, making it an ideal location for Terradot’s operations.
The Challenges
While Terradot’s approach shows promise, there are still several challenges that need to be addressed. One of the main concerns is how to accurately measure the amount of CO2 trapped by this process. Google acknowledges this issue in its announcement, stating: "Right now, it’s hard to measure with precision how much CO2 this process removes from the atmosphere."
Terradot plans to take soil samples to assess how much CO2 is captured based on how the rock degrades over time. However, it is harder to determine how much calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate make it to the ocean to permanently sequester CO2.
The Expert Opinion
Oliver Jagoutz, a professor of geology at MIT, believes that Terradot’s approach has potential, despite the uncertainties surrounding its effectiveness. "I also think, why not try? … I don’t think we have the luxury to overthink it right now," he says.
However, Jagoutz also acknowledges that the amount of CO2 sequestered by this process is still an open question. "How much they sequester is still the outstanding question."
The Context
Google’s investment in carbon removal is part of its broader effort to combat climate change. The company has recently announced plans to develop advanced nuclear reactors and new solar and wind farms to power its energy-hungry AI data centers.
While carbon removal can help counteract some of a company’s legacy of pollution, it is not a substitute for emissions reductions. As Kanoff from Terradot notes: "It’s very clear that this is not a substitute for emissions reductions at all … we need both of these tools."
Conclusion
Google and other big companies’ investment in Terradot’s approach to trapping carbon dioxide using rocks is an encouraging sign. While there are still several challenges that need to be addressed, this initiative has the potential to make a significant impact on combating climate change.
However, it is essential to remember that emissions reductions remain the most effective way to stop climate change. Carbon removal can only be seen as a complementary measure to help counteract some of a company’s legacy of pollution while making the transition to clean energy.
Related Stories
- Google’s future data centers will be built next to solar and wind farms
- Google inks nuclear deal for next-generation reactors
- Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels are already making heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms, and other climate disasters more dangerous.