Isometric’s Post

Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Natural Solution for Carbon Capture *Abstract* Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) is a novel approach to carbon capture and utilization, leveraging the natural process of rock weathering to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). 1. Introduction Rock weathering is a natural process that involves the breakdown of rocks into sediments, releasing ions and nutrients into the environment. ERW accelerates this process by deliberately adding finely crushed rocks to soils and ecosystems, enhancing CO2 capture and utilization. 2. Principles of ERW ERW involves the deliberate addition of finely crushed rocks to soils and ecosystems, accelerating the natural weathering process and enhancing CO2 capture. The process can be divided into two stages: chemical weathering and biological weathering. 3. Mechanisms of ERW Chemical weathering involves the reaction of rocks with CO2 and water, forming bicarbonates and silicates, which are stable and long-lived. Biological weathering involves the enhancement of weathering rates by microorganisms and plant roots, increasing CO2 uptake. 4. Benefits of ERW ERW offers several benefits, including: Carbon sequestration: ERW captures billions of tons of CO2 annually, contributing to global climate goals Soil fertility: ERW improves soil health, structure, and fertility, boosting crop yields and ecosystem services. Climate change mitigation: ERW is a natural, sustainable solution for reducing atmospheric CO2 levels. 5. Measurement and Verification Advanced techniques, such as isotopic analysis, geochemical modeling, and remote sensing, ensure accurate tracking of carbon capture and ecosystem responses. 6. Conclusion ERW is a game-changer for climate action, offering a natural, scalable, and sustainable solution for carbon capture and utilization. Further research and deployment are essential to realize its full potential. *References* Hartmann, J., et al. (2020). Enhanced Rock Weathering: A New Paradigm for Carbon Sequestration. Montgomery, D. R., et al. (2018). Rock Weathering and Soil Formation. Dynes, J. J., et al. (2019). Carbon Sequestration through Enhanced Rock Weathering. Liu, J., et al. (2020). Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Review of the Science and Technology.

Isometric recently issued 235.53 carbon dioxide removal credits for InPlanet. These are the world’s first independently verified Enhanced Weathering (EW) credits and will be delivered to Adyen (having been secured by ClimeFi). These first verified EW credits are a turning point for scaling carbon dioxide removal (CDR). They raise the bar for quality by incorporating the latest scientific advances in the field, drawing on academic consensus and showing it is operationally feasible to perform rigorous monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) in EW. EW accelerates natural weathering reactions and removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by spreading crushed rocks on farmland. This increases the rate at which carbon dioxide can be durably stored in oceans. EW has numerous advantages for scaling. It is low cost, has immense storage potential in oceans and creates substantial co-benefits—including improved soil health, greater agricultural productivity and job creation in rural communities. But—until now—EW has not been robustly tested in the field. Isometric-verified data from InPlanet’s credits will also be anonymized and shared with Cascade Climate's data sharing system. This will give researchers the opportunity to access verified commercial data for the advancement of EW models and other solutions needed to scale the field. Buyers, suppliers and policymakers can view the transparent data behind every EW credit on the Isometric Registry. The Registry provides a permanent audit trail for all credits issued by Isometric and makes all the underlying information behind every credit public so the data can be reviewed and scrutinized. With scientific consensus and rigorous MRV at the core of these first EW credits, buyers, suppliers and the public can be sure that every EW credit from Isometric equals one tonne of carbon dioxide durably removed from the atmosphere. Read more at the link in the comments.

R&D and progress ongoing as "industry needs to gain the tools and expertise to find, map and characterize promising sites...There’s also ongoing challenges around water. ... Projects have made progress using seawater, and in Oman, treated wastewater, instead of freshwater, is being used to bring down costs and environmental impacts. Researchers are also exploring ways to recycle water in a continuous loop. There are also questions about how injecting far larger amounts of CO2 will influence reaction rates and pathways." https://lnkd.in/ezsd8Uxz Ruth Kamnitzer Katie Lebling Eric Oelkers Catalina Sánchez-Roa, PhD Carbfix 44.01 Climeworks Christopher Consoli Global CCS Institute Deep Sky #carboncapture #mineralisation #decarbonisation #environmentalimpact #carbonmarkets #carbonpricing #cbam #energytransition #landuse #waterconservation #climatetech #issb #esrs #sfdr #ccs #wastewater #regulation #governance #transparency

How does an environmental consultancy use GIS to monitor project areas around the world? 🛰️ 🌍 Well, GIS (Geographic Information System) is hugely useful for analysing and monitoring project areas near and far… First, some background about GIS: There are two main data types:  🟩 Raster: Grid based - often used for continuous data (temperature, elevation, biomass) 📍 Vector: Distinct points, lines, polygons - often used for ecoregions, political boundaries, roads To analyse project sites, we often use Earth Blox, which allows for the rapid monitoring of project sites through a spatial and temporal lens. This means we can make a map layer based on specific locations and specific times and then analyse its data. Another common practice is to use GIS to estimate biomass. Remote sensing is the most efficient method for large scales, but it does not directly measure ABG and should be calibrated with field data. Here are some of the remote sensing techniques: 🌍 Optical uses passive sensors and radiation, often based on crown area. Works well in arid regions, not for dense forests, because it cannot penetrate the canopy. 🌍 Radar is the most commonly used technique. It uses different wavelength bands and measures backscatter from different depths of penetration through the canopy. 🌍 Lidar is based on plant height. It’s usually the most reliable technique, but is expensive at large scales 🚀 Is there any other component of GIS in our work that you would like to know more about? Let us know! [Image Source & Great Further Reading: Tian, Lei, Xiaocan Wu, Yu Tao, Mingyang Li, Chunhua Qian, Longtao Liao, and Wenxue Fu. 2023. "Review of Remote Sensing-Based Methods for Forest Aboveground Biomass Estimation: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects" Forests 14, no. 6: 1086. https://lnkd.in/eZyCq7jX] 👉 Enjoy this kind of content? Follow our page and visit our website for more thought leadership related to the carbon market, climate finance, and sustainable development!

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is underestimating methane emissions from landfills, urban areas and U.S. states, according to a new study led by researchers at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). The researchers combined 2019 satellite observations with an atmospheric transport model to generate a high-resolution map of methane emissions, which was then compared to EPA estimates from the same year. The researchers found: - Methane emissions from landfills are 51% higher compared to EPA estimates - Methane emissions from 95 urban areas are 39% higher than EPA estimates - Methane emissions from the 10 states with the highest methane emissions are 27% higher than EPA estimates https://lnkd.in/dB8g6i2e

Lithos Carbon partners with Microsoft for carbon removal from Enhanced Rock Weathering - Lithos Carbon announced a new three-year agreement with Microsoft to use Enhanced Rock Weathering for carbon removal. - The company has delivered 500 tons of carbon removal for Microsoft by using volcanic basalt rock dust on U.S. farmland as of December 2023. - A novel carbon removal research field has been deployed in a subtropical environment to generate large-scale datasets with high-resolution measurement validation. - The agreement focuses on empirically quantified carbon removal and improving measurement techniques to validate the quantity and speed of carbon captured. - Lithos Carbon aims to create agronomic and ecosystem benefits for agricultural growers while scaling adoption in the carbon removal market. - The natural process of rock weathering already draws down about 1.1 billion tons of CO₂ annually. - Deploying selected basalt on croplands accelerates CO₂ removal and locks it away for tens of thousands of years. - Lithos Carbon repurposes upcycled volcanic dust into agricultural products, avoiding new emissions in the process. - Enhanced Rock Weathering offers a cost-efficient and permanent solution for meeting climate goals in the next decade. - Researchers from the Yale Center of Natural Carbon Capture are involved in cross-validating measurement techniques across 3,000 acres of farmland. - The project aims to provide rigorous and transparent data to the academic community. - Lithos Carbon intends to remove a billion tons of CO₂ over the next decade by transforming croplands into carbon capture centers. - The partnership supports Microsoft's commitment to being carbon negative by 2030 and expands the carbon removal market. - Lithos Carbon plans to empirically quantify over 11,400 metric tons of permanent carbon removal under the new agreement. - The company has spread hundreds of thousands of tons of basalt rock dust across North America and is collaborating with over 100 farmers. - Lithos Carbon was named a finalist in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Challenge and a semifinalist in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize. https://lnkd.in/gBYmagkU

Uncovering the Largest Methane Leak in History In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) have detected the largest methane leak ever recorded in an oil well. This discovery has significant implications for the energy industry, environmental monitoring, and global climate change efforts. The study was initiated by a team of environmental scientists and engineers from UPV, aiming to improve the accuracy of methane emission measurements from oil and gas operations. Advanced satellite imaging and remote sensing technologies were employed to monitor atmospheric methane concentrations. These tools provided high-resolution data, enabling precise identification of emission sources. The data collected was rigorously analyzed and cross-referenced with ground-based measurements to confirm the magnitude of the methane leak. This thorough verification process ensured the reliability of the findings. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential significantly higher than carbon dioxide. Identifying and mitigating such leaks is critical in combating climate change and reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions. The findings highlight the need for stricter monitoring and regulatory frameworks within the oil and gas industry. Improved detection and response strategies can prevent future leaks and minimize environmental damage. The successful application of advanced satellite and remote sensing technologies sets a new standard for environmental monitoring. This approach can be replicated globally to enhance methane detection and contribute to more effective climate action. Policymakers can use this data to formulate more stringent regulations and incentivize the adoption of best practices in the industry. This will ensure greater accountability and transparency in managing methane emissions. https://buff.ly/4dgLWv1 #EnvironmentalScience #MethaneLeak #ClimateChange #Sustainability #OilAndGas #Research #Technology

UNDO Signs Follow-On Enhanced Rock Weathering Carbon Removal Deal with Microsoft - UNDO has signed a follow-on deal with Microsoft to remove 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. - The deal will also fund crucial scientific research in the enhanced rock weathering field. - This initiative contributes to Microsoft's commitment to being carbon-negative by 2030. - UNDO’s commercial relationship with Microsoft began in 2023 with a contract to remove 5,000 tonnes of CO₂ by spreading 25,000 tonnes of basalt in the UK. - The new agreement increases the scale significantly, spreading 65,000 tonnes of crushed silicate rock across the UK and Canada. - The deal aims to support local farmers and rural communities by providing essential nutrients to crops and reducing fertilizer reliance. - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that 10 billion tonnes of CO₂ must be actively removed annually by 2050 to avoid severe climate effects. - Enhanced rock weathering can potentially remove up to 4 billion tonnes of CO₂ each year. - Funding from Microsoft will allow UNDO to establish field trials in Ontario and the UK for measuring and verifying carbon removal. - Enhanced rock weathering accelerates the natural weathering process to capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. - UNDO selected Canadian Wollastonite as a mining partner for its fast-weathering feedstock of wollastonite. - The partnership with Canadian Wollastonite aims to produce a low-carbon mineral for enhanced rock weathering while measuring captured carbon. - UNDO plans to expand its operations in Canada, leveraging significant governmental and financial support for carbon removal initiatives. - By offering crushed rock to farmers for free, UNDO supports agricultural sectors vulnerable to climate change effects. https://lnkd.in/g_Jp3_hn

If you work with ARR, IFM, REDD+, or Blue Carbon Projects, this is for you: We just published an open-access database with geospatial analysis reports on +500 Nature-based Carbon Projects. 💬 Comment “NBS”, send me a connect request and I’ll send you a copy. A few months ago, Elias & the Renoster Team published an incredibly useful resource, open-sourcing shapefiles of +500 Nature-based Carbon Offset Projects from Verra, Gold Standard, ACR, CAR, and Ecoregistry. Now, we have open-sourced geospatial data analysis reports on all of these projects, including: - Forest Cover Changes - Land Use Land Cover Changes - Above-Ground Biomass - Terrain - Burned Area  - Drought Risk  - Hydrological Conditions  - Surface Water Changes The report generation for all +500 reports was fully automated through Maya’s Geospatial Copilot software, and the texts are fully AI-generated. Without any manual editing from our side. We hope this database enables everyone in the VCM to make more informed decisions. Of course, all globally available open-source datasets have their limitations, and the accuracy of the results varies significantly. Producing +500 geospatial reports easily took a few thousand working hours before. Now, with advanced automation and LLMs available, our users can do this in a few days.

We just proved that Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement is safe and effective… … at very small scale. Last week, Nature Communications Earth and Environment published a paper by scientists from Plymouth Marine Labs Applications detailing the results of our 2022 project - one of the first small scale Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement field trials. The key takeaways were: - Adding alkalinity (in this case, magnesium hydroxide) to wastewater converts the CO2 in the wastewater into dissolved carbonates and bicarbonates, thus reducing the amount of CO2 that would otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere. - This provides a proxy for the measurement of carbon removal in the ocean - The effect on ocean chemistry was barely detectable right at point of addition to the ocean (within 5 meters) and undetectable beyond that, - This confirmed the predicted, rapid dilution of the alkalized water below detection limits once discharged to the ocean, indicating the need for ocean modeling to estimate dispersal and any subsequent removal of CO2 from air. - All measured chemical effects stopped once the addition stopped, providing a clear “exit strategy” for the process This is a groundbreaking result, demonstrating that the process’ impacts, and therefore risks, are highly localized and temporary and clearly showing the positive effects of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement. It provides strong confidence in our ability to incrementally and carefully scale up the technology. Planetary’s CEO Mike Kelland and Chief Ocean Scientist William Burt sat down to discuss the results and provide a bit of background on how the project came to be. You can also read through Dr. Steve Rackley discussion of the project and the results on our blog (https://lnkd.in/enbXPNn3). Congratulations to all the authors (Vassilis Kitidis, Steve Rackley, William Burt, Greg Rau, Sam Fawcett, Matthew Taylor, Glen Tarran, Malcolm Woodward, Carolyn Harris & Tim Fileman) on this incredible paper and thank you to our partners and collaborators at South West Water, PML Applications, Port and Coastal Solutions, Deltares, Royal HaskoningDHV, Coastal Science Ltd, Shopify, and many others. Appreciating as well the support of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero GGR grant program. #cdr #oceans #mCDR #OAE #climatechange