CARBON REMOVAL WEEKLY SUMMARY (16 OCTOBER - 22 OCTOBER 2023)-WEEK#35
Links to recent scientific papers, web posts, upcoming events, job opportunities, podcasts, and event recordings, etc. on Carbon Dioxide Removal Technology.
💸COMMERCIAL NEWS
Copenhagen-based Klimate.co secures €3.5 million to address climate change through carbon management solutions (EU-Startups)
Exterra Carbon Solutions Will Launch Its Next Funding Round (Carbon Herald)
Heidelberg Materials Launches New CO2 Capture Pilot In Bulgaria (Carbon Herald)
CICE Funds Innovation to Advance the Measuring, Monitoring, and Verification (MMV) of Carbon Management (Newswire)
Elon Musk-Funded XPRIZE ‘$100M Carbon Removal’ Challenge Welcomes Verde AgriTech to Phase 2 (Derive Tesla Canada)
London Marathon organizers to begin paying for carbon removal (The Standard)
📝RESEARCH PAPERS
Global-scale evaluation of coastal ocean alkalinity enhancement in a fully-coupled Earth system model
Palmiéri, J., & Yool, A. (2023). Global-scale evaluation of coastal ocean alkalinity enhancement in a fully-coupled Earth system model.
Data-Driven Optimisation of Intermittent Methanol Production via Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 from Direct Air Capture
Malandria, A., Kozyra, D., Purwantoa, H. K., Bloora, M., & Al Lawatia, N. Data-Driven Optimisation of Intermittent Methanol Production via Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2 from Direct Air Capture.
N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) as an effective CO2 absorbent for direct air capture
Kopitha, K., Elakneswaran, Y., Kitagaki, R., Saito, R., Tsujino, M., Nishida, A., ... & Hiroyoshi, N. (2023). N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) as an effective CO2 absorbent for direct air capture (DAC) in cement-based materials. Chemical Engineering Journal, 475, 146067.
The new EU carbon removal certification: Landmark legislation or an empty promise?
Štrubelj, L., Smith, S. M., House, J. I., Rodway-Dyer, S., Lynch, J., Bogojević, S., ... & Mac Dowell, N. (2023). The new EU carbon removal certification: Landmark legislation or an empty promise?. One Earth, 6(9), 1093-1097.
Techno-economic and life cycle assessment of the integration of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage in the polygeneration system (BECCS-PS) for producing green electricity and methanol
Pratama, M. R., Muthia, R., & Purwanto, W. W. (2023). Techno-economic and life cycle assessment of the integration of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage in the polygeneration system (BECCS-PS) for producing green electricity and methanol. Carbon Neutrality, 2(1), 26.
Photothermal Release of CO2 Using Carbon/Silica Composite toward Direct Air Capture
Kataoka, T., Orita, Y., & Shimoyama, Y. (2023). Photothermal Release of CO2 Using Carbon/Silica Composite toward Direct Air Capture. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.
Direct air capture (DAC) deployment: National context cannot be neglected. A case study applied to Norway
Bisotti, F., Hoff, K. A., Mathisen, A., & Hovland, J. (2023). Direct air capture (DAC) deployment: National context cannot be neglected. A case study applied to Norway. Chemical Engineering Science, 119313.
Piperazine-impregnated silica aerogel for direct air capture of CO2 for prevention of urea formation
Liu, L., Wang, Q., Cho, Y. H., Park, H. H., & Lee, C. H. (2023). Piperazine-impregnated silica aerogel for direct air capture of CO2 for prevention of urea formation. Chemical Engineering Research and Design, 199, 74-86.
Assessing the impact of CO2 equilibrated ocean alkalinity enhancement on microbial metabolic rates in an oligotrophic system
Marín-Samper, L., Arístegui, J., Hernández-Hernández, N., Ortiz, J., Archer, S. D., Ludwig, A., and Riebesell, U. (2023). Assessing the impact of CO2 equilibrated ocean alkalinity enhancement on microbial metabolic rates in an oligotrophic system, EGUsphere [preprint].
Carbon-negative hydrogen production (HyBECCS): An exemplary techno-economic and environmental assessment
Full, J., Geller, M., Ziehn, S., Schließ, T., Miehe, R., & Sauer, A. (2023). Carbon-negative hydrogen production (HyBECCS): An exemplary techno-economic and environmental assessment. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy.
Modelling the impact of forest management and CO2-fertilisation on growth and demography in a Sitka spruce plantation
Argles, A. P., Robertson, E., Harper, A. B., Morison, J. I., Xenakis, G., Hastings, A., ... & Cox, P. M. (2023). Modelling the impact of forest management and CO2-fertilisation on growth and demography in a Sitka spruce plantation. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 13487.
L-lysine-assisted synthesis of gismondine and chabazite nanozeolites for direct air capture of CO2
Kencana, K. S., Kemp, K. C., & Hong, S. B. (2023). L-Lysine-assisted synthesis of gismondine and chabazite nanozeolites for direct air capture of CO2. Separation and Purification Technology, 125154.
Cover crops do not increase soil organic carbon stocks as much as has been claimed: What is the way forward?
Chaplot, V., & Smith, P. (2023). Cover crops do not increase soil organic carbon stocks as much as has been claimed: What is the way forward?. Global Change Biology.
A comparative exergy-based assessment of direct air capture technologies
Hoseinpoori, S., Pallarès, D., Johnsson, F., & Thunman, H. (2023). A comparative exergy-based assessment of direct air capture technologies. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, 28(7), 39.
Oxidative degradation of Piperazine (PZ) in aqueous KOH/K2CO3 solutions
Ochedi, F. O., Andresen, J., Garcia, S., & van der Spek, M. (2023). Oxidative degradation of Piperazine (PZ) in aqueous KOH/K2CO3 solutions. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 111228.
Global increase in biomass carbon stock dominated by growth of northern young forests over past decade
Yang, H., Ciais, P., Frappart, F., Li, X., Brandt, M., Fensholt, R., ... & Wigneron, J. P. (2023). Global increase in biomass carbon stock dominated by growth of northern young forests over past decade. Nature Geoscience, 1-7.
A trillion trees: carbon capture or fuelling fires?
Stevens, N., & Bond, W. J. (2023). A trillion trees: carbon capture or fuelling fires?. Trends in Ecology & Evolution.
Benefit-cost ratios of carbon dioxide removal strategies
Cael, B. B., Goodwin, P., Pearce, C., & Stainforth, D. (2023). Benefit-cost ratios of carbon dioxide removal strategies. Environmental Research Letters.
📑WORKING PAPERS
Land-Use Change, No-Net-Loss Policies, and Effects on Carbon Dioxide Removals
📰WEB POSTS
Italian Startup Limenet Is Fighting Ocean Acidification While Sequestering CO2 (Carbon Herald)
Ambitious trio of projects to investigate how life in the sea helps the ocean store carbon (BioCarbon)
The Great Cash-for-Carbon Hustle (The New Yorker)
Why should farmers care about carbon? (Successful Farming)
Carbon Mineralization Needs Greater Policy Support to Reach Carbon Removal Potential (World Resources Institute)
Svante and Storegga Collaborate to Deliver Global Commercial-Scale Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage Projects (Svante)
Brimstone has the right approach for decarbonizing cement (The Meow Energy)
Introducing Puro Connect API for Sales Channels - Revolutionizing CDR Management & Unlocking Market Growth (puro. earth)
Turn it to *11*! The greenhouse tactics that accelerate our ERW research (Carbon Drawdown Initiative)
Another weapon to fight climate change? Put carbon back where we found it (National Geographic)
Should we be geo-engineering the oceans? (Reuters)
A Startup Battles Big Oil for the $1 Trillion Future of Carbon Cleanup (Bloomberg)
Understanding MRV: More Than Technology in Carbon Removal (Medium)
We need to talk about rocks (Climate Drift)
Carbon Markets Innovation Forum (CMIF)
Can Plankton Ferry Carbon to the Bottom of the Ocean (Heatmap)
Modular Direct Air Capture at Industrial Sites (puro.earth)
Reality Check: Demystifying the Need for Carbon Dioxide Removal (RMI)
Reality Check: This Decade Is Make-or-Break for Direct Air Capture (RMI)
NBA Legend Rick Fox Builds World’s First Carbon Negative Home (Carbon Credits)
Deep Sky Selects Isometric as First MRV Protocol Development Partner (Newswire)
COWI To Support Removr In Execution Of Its First Commercial Direct Air Capture Plant (Carbon Herald)
World’s First Carbon-Removing Book to be Released on Polygon Blockchain (Newswires)
Carbonfuture Partners with Greenly to Provide High-Quality, Durable Carbon Removal to Greenly’s Business Customers (Carbonfuture)
General Mills and Walmart join forces to drive regenerative farming (edie)
📗THESIS
Direct Air Capture as a Carbon Removal Solution: Analyzing Scale-Up, Cost Reduction, and Pathways for Acceleration
Biochar in forest establishment: synergies between nutrient delivery, growth and carbon storage
📄REPORTS
The State of Carbon Credits 2023 (Sylvera)
Best Practice Guidelines for Mangrove Restoration (Global Mangrove Alliance)
Carbon Dioxide Removal Pathway: Ocean Health and MRV—Captura
Ocean Carbon Removal Market: USD 2060 Mn Anticipated Value by 2029 with 17.5% CAGR (OpenPR)
Eucalyptus: An Overlooked Resource for CO2 Removal and Building Decarbonization
🧰CDR FIRMS
Airzyme
Nellie
Ctrl+Z
📆UPCOMING EVENTS
This Is CDR Ep85 with CarbonBlue CEO Dr. Dan Deviri by OpenAir Collective | 24 October 2023
Commercial CDR Purchase Pilot Prize Informational Webinar by US DOE | 24 October 2023
(NEW) Carbon Removals at COP: Media Briefing | 24 October 2023
(NEW) Expert Group meeting on industrial carbon removal certification methodologies by European Commission | 25 October 2023
(NEW) AirMiners Happy Hour Gathering at VERGE by AirMiners | 25 October 2023
(NEW) Living Carbon Open (Green)House by Living Carbon | 25 October 2023
Cultivating change: Exploring soil regeneration solutions and the power of biochar by Patch | 26 October 2023
Upscaling Biochar as a Soil Amendment and Waste Management Technology by Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy | 26 October 2023
(NEW) Monitoring As A Service: The Next Evolution in Carbon Removal by Verge | 26 October 2023
(NEW) Cultivating change: Exploring soil regeneration solutions and the power of biochar by Patch | 26 October 2023
(NEW) This Is CDR Ep86: Communicating Carbon Removal with Dr. Rob Bellamy by OpenAir Collective | 31 October 2023
(NEW) Rooted in Debate: Exploring the role of soil carbon in EU climate action by Carbon Gap | 31 October 2023
Screen projects for carbon risks with our new Scorecard–Introducing our self-serve risk assessment tool by BeZero | 01 November 2023
(NEW) Innovations in Biochar: New Uses to Unlock its Potential by AirMiners | 01 November 2023
Carbon Removal Technology webinar & report launch by The Energyst & Drax | 02 November 2023
(NEW) 2024 Carbon Removal Challenge Info Session w/ Frontier and RMI! by OpenAir Collective | 06 November 2023
The Role of Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in UK Net Zero by CO₂RE - The Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub | 07 November 2023
International Biochar Initiative's Annual Symposium | 7-9 November 2023
Carbon Removal Canada: Launch Event by Carbon Removal Canada | 08 November 2023
Third Annual Carbon Dioxide Removal Law & Policy Conference by Institute of Carbon Removal Law and Policy | 09 November 2023
(NEW) TechEthos policy event: Ethics for the Green and Digital Transition by TechEthos | 14 November 2023
Direct Air Capture Panel Discussion by the University of California, Davis, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas | 15 November 2023
(NEW) Carbon Open Canvas by AirMiners | 15 November 2023
CDR Capital Flow Chapter meeting | Zurich Roundtable by Negative Emissions Platform | 23 November and 30 November 2023
(NEW) Carbon to Value Initiative Year 3 Final Showcase by Greentown Labs | 30 November 2023
(NEW) This Is CDR Epxx: Rewind -- Terrestrial Biomass Sinking in Anoxic Zones by OpenAir Collective | 12 December 2023
CDR Capital Flow Chapter meeting | Paris Roundtable by Negative Emissions Platform | 11 January and 18 January 2023
Science Communication Training on Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal by Compass | Session 1: 1-2 February 2024, Session 2: 18 February 2023
CDR Capital Flow Chapter meeting | London Roundtable by Negative Emissions Platform | 01 February and 08 February 2023
Biochar 2024: The North American Conference on Climate Action with Biochar for Economic and Ecosystem Resilience by US Biochar Initiative (USBI) | 12-15 February 2023
Negative CO₂ Emissions hosted at the University of Oxford by CO₂RE - The Greenhouse Gas Removal Hub, with financial support from UKRI | 18-21 June 2024
💼JOB OPPORTUNITIES
PhD Project: Patchiness of marine plankton and its influence on the ocean carbon cycle at University of East Anglia, School of Environmental Sciences | Deadline: 10 January 2023
“About the Project:
Marine ecosystems play a key role in regulating the Earth's climate. Marine ecosystems live largely at the ocean’s surface. Their activities generate a flux of carbon between the ocean surface and the deep ocean, so-called export flux, that modulates atmospheric CO2 in the long-term. The most recent global observations reveal that the bulk distribution of plankton populations tends to become more patchy with increasing size of micro-organisms. This suggests a change from small organisms such as picophytoplankton forming a constant background biomass, to large organisms such as jellyfish going through bloom and bust cycles (Buitenhuis et al 2013). Yet, even the most complex models (Le Quéré et al 2016) fail to reproduce the observed increasing patchiness.”
Postdoctoral Scholar in soil ecology of diversified orchard systems at Gaudin Lab | Deadline: 5 November 2023
“The Agroecology group at the University of California Davis lead by Dr Gaudin is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to join their team in investigating the impacts of orchard diversification via livestock grazing on soil ecology, nutrient cycling, and stress resilience. Grazing of orchard understories provides an opportunity to address common management challenges associated with nutrient cycling in organic systems, but significant knowledge gaps remain in understanding shifts in nitrogen provision and retention and impacts on soil ecology and functions regulating the sustainability and resilience of these systems. Your mission will be to lead research characterizing outcomes on soil ecosystems and work closely with an interdisciplinary team of scientists evaluating food safety risks, pest suppression potential, and cost-benefits of grazing in organic orchard systems.
The successful candidate will be funded through a USDA-OREI grant and engage in research and outreach activities related to the development of agroforestry and integrated crop-livestock systems in California. The candidate will be based at UC Davis and will design and coordinate all aspects of on-farm experimentation in partnership with orchard crop growers across the Central Valley. A large part of the mission will be to collect and analyze soils to gain a better understanding of N and C dynamics to inform nutrient management, examine potential tradeoffs for other soil health metrics, and execute controlled laboratory studies manipulating warming and/or drought using soils and plants from different field sites. You will join a dynamic team of scholars and engage in shared lab management tasks and mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students.”
Open positions at BeZero Carbon | London:
“BeZero Carbon is a global ratings agency for the Voluntary Carbon Market. Our carbon credit ratings allow all market participants to price and manage risk. BeZero’s carbon ratings and research tools support buyers, intermediaries, investors, and carbon project developers.”
Senior Director Business Development at Carbonfuture | Remote, US
“Carbonfuture is the Trust Infrastructure for durable carbon removal. Today, the Trust Infrastructure consists of two products that seamlessly connect the entire carbon removal lifecycle: Carbonfuture MRV+, the most comprehensive MRV solution for durable CDR, and Carbonfuture Marketplace, the leading marketplace for durable CDR.”
Senior Project Manager at Arca | Vancouver, British Columbia (Hybrid)
“At Arca, we pull carbon dioxide from the air and store it permanently as rock. To do this at scale, we partner with the minerals industry to implement our technology at mines. These are the same mines that are producing the minerals (nickel, for example) necessary for the transition to a clean energy future.”
🎙️PODCASTS
The Road to Gigaton-Scale Carbon Removal, with Giana Amador | The Keep Cool Show
“What exactly is the future of carbon removal? What is the role of government, and why is the need for industry collaboration key to driving its success? And how can an all-hands-on-deck approach help to achieve ambitious climate goals by 2030?
Giana Amador, Executive Director of the Carbon Removal Alliance, joins Nick to discuss all of the above as well as the importance of policy, infrastructure, and workforce development in reaching gigaton-scale carbon removal.
Find out how the Carbon Removal Alliance is bridging the gap between the private sector and federal policymakers to accelerate the adoption of carbon removal.
Giana also shares insights into the growth of the carbon removal industry and emphasizes the importance of integrating community benefit considerations into industry development while highlighting the challenges of measuring and verifying carbon removal and the need for robust monitoring, reporting, and verification systems.”
U.S. Government Becomes a CDR Buyer | Carbon Removal Newsroom
“A few weeks ago, the US government announced it would directly purchase carbon removal. The Department of Energy released news of a $35 million fund to procure CDR credits. The prize fund will take the form of offtake agreements and cover four pathways.
More and more governments are funding CDR pilots, supporting research, and adding CDR targets to their climate plans. CDR has quickly entered an era of widespread support throughout North America and Europe.
But while the support is wide, it is also shallow; most policies take the form of modest grants or targets, with a few more ambitious countries leading the way.
Many CDR commentators have come to the conclusion that without a compliance market, carbon removal won’t ever scale up.
On this episode we asked our policy panel about recent government actions on CDR: will they work, are they enough, and what more needs to be done? Are today’s policies sufficient to get us where we need to go?
Radhika is joined by Wil Burns, Co-Executive Director of the Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy at American University, and Holly Jean Buck, Assistant Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the University at Buffalo.”
Sublime Systems | Dr. Leah Ellis, CEO & Co-Founder
“In this podcast, We covered a lot of ground, including how:
-We're riding the wave of clean, abundant renewable electricity
-Performance-based standards unleash innovators to solve the right problem in decarbonizing infrastructure
-We simulate concrete durability tests to ensure our material lasts for a long time
-Cement is an incredibly cost-efficient way of addressing Scope 3 emissions/embodied carbon in buildings.”
"Year of the slags" - Bullock | Reviewer 2 does geoengineering
“Liam Bullock talks about his Horizon-funded work on slags, tailings and overburden. How can these different wastes be used for CO2 removal? “Experimental investigation of multiple industrial wastes for carbon dioxide removal strategies (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2023.103990)”
🎥YOUTUBE VIDEOS
Founders Series: Victor Smetacek on Ocean Iron Fertilization | Foundation for Climate Restoration
Carbon Removal Summit - Highlights Reel | Negative Emissions Platform
“This highlights reel covers the 'Business of CDR session' within the Carbon Removals Summit which features representatives of NEP Members. It takes the shape of a business leadership panel where senior business executives from the CDR industry come together to share their personal journeys with CDR. Discover how these leaders first became interested in CDR, where they found their inspiration, and how they secured funding for their startups. Gain valuable insights into the challenges of running a CDR company, and learn about the strategies these business executives employed to overcome these hurdles. Additionally, these industry leaders will discuss the roadmap for policy support needed to match the required growth for the sector.”
Enhanced rock weathering startup Eion predicts dramatic growth as DoE pumps $35m into C02 removal | AgFunder
“Eion—a startup with a patented approach to measuring carbon dioxide removed through enhanced rock weathering on farmland—is “shooting for thousands to tens of thousands of metric tons” of silicate rock applications in 2024 as more players commit to buying carbon credits generated by the process.”
In Focus—David Wear on Carbon Dioxide Removal from US Forests | Resources for the Future
“Forests, which remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by sequestering carbon in growing vegetation and soils, are key players in the US strategy for carbon dioxide removal and achieving net-zero emissions by midcentury. Will forests be enough? David N. Wear, director of RFF’s Land Use, Forestry, and Agriculture Program and coauthor of a new working paper about carbon storage in US forests, shares his thoughts on how forests and new technologies both can help meet the nation’s climate goals.”
"4 PER 1000" SOIL CARBON SCIENCE WEBINAR SERIES #2: The Often Unaccounted Yet Irrecoverable Carbon | 4p1000 Initiative
"4 PER 1000" PRESENTS SOIL CARBON SCIENCE WEBINAR SERIES #2: Soil Inorganic Carbon (SIC) contributes to the environment. Despite its significance in the global carbon pool and role in climate regulation, SIC has received less attention than soil organic carbon (SOC). Recent findings challenge the notion of SIC's negligible contribution to the global carbon cycle, revealing its susceptibility to climate change and agricultural practices. Understanding. This webinar features esteemed experts Dr. Kazem Zamanian and Dr. Iñigo Virto Quecedo delving into the under-explored world of SIC and its implications for soil resilience and global changes.”
AirMiners October 2023 Town Hall | AirMiners
“ AirMiners operating team will draw back the veil on how we have been doing, and also outline what's on the horizon: Kiloton Fund, DAC Pioneer Program, and more!”
Co2municator: Finding your Compelling Voice with Bob Sadler | OpenAir
“In this workshop expert communications coach Bob Sadler covers the methods of finding your most compelling voice for persuasive advocacy. New Hampshire-based OpenAir member Judy Payne shares the short powerpoint presentation she has created for members of her community, which focuses on general carbon removal concepts and why carbon removal is a critical piece of any science-based response to the climate crisis. Bob and other OpenAir members offer feedback and suggestions.”
Co2municator: The 90 Second Pitch with Bob Sadler | OpenAir
“In this workshop expert communications coach Bob Sadler covers the methods of developing an effective 90 second message or 'pitch' for persuasive advocacy. A good pitch is both necessary in its own right for direct interpersonal engagement, but can also serve as the basis for more elaborate and extensive communications, such as presentations. OpenAir co-founder Chris Neidl shares his draft message "why I care about carbon removal" for input and suggestions from Bob and other OpenAir members.”
Co2municator: The 20 Min Presentation with Bob Sadler | OpenAir
“In this workshop expert communications coach Bob Sadler covers general methods on how to craft a persuasive 20-minute presentation with slides. for CDR advocacy. OpenAir co-founder Chris Neidl shares his draft 20-minute presentation focused on the mission and foundational ideas behind both OpenAir and the new Carbon Crowd platform", and receives input and suggestions from Bob and other OpenAir members.”
Can Regenerative Farming Revive the Earth and Feed the World? | Consensus Digital Media
“In this episode, we’ll: Unlock the secrets of carbon sequestration through regenerative practices. Learn how sustainable ranching is shaping a healthy future for our planet. Explore the economic viability of regenerative farming. Meet the stewards of regenerative agriculture who are championing positive change.”
Why carbon neutral cement is years away | Transforming Business | DW News
“Like many heavy industries, Cement is looking to go CO2 neutral by 2050. Plans to produce "green cement" are heavily reliant on technologies that are still years away from real world implementation. One company is trialing new solutions at a plant in Rüdersdorf, Germany.”