Carbon Capture: Google and Big Companies Invest in Trapping CO2 using Rocks
In an effort to mitigate the impact of their pollution on the climate, several big companies, including Google, H&M Group, and Salesforce, have invested heavily in a plan to trap carbon dioxide using rocks. This ambitious undertaking is led by a startup called Terradot, which has garnered significant backing from investors, including Sheryl Sandberg.
A Multimillion Dollar Deal
The latest development in this story is the signing of a multimillion dollar deal between Google and Terradot. The agreement involves the removal of 90,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere at a cost of approximately $27 million to the companies involved. This figure works out to around $300 per ton of CO2 captured.
In addition to this deal, Google has also announced its own separate agreement with Terradot to purchase an additional 200,000 tons of carbon removal. While the exact price of this deal was not disclosed, it is expected to be significant, potentially adding up to $60 million to Google’s carbon capture efforts.
The Science Behind Enhanced Rock Weathering
So, how does enhanced rock weathering (ERW) work? In its natural form, rainfall helps to break down rocks into smaller particles, releasing calcium and magnesium ions in the process. These ions trigger a chemical reaction that traps CO2 in water as bicarbonate, which eventually makes its way to the ocean and is stored there.
The idea behind ERW is simple: by crushing up rock and spreading it out over a large area, you can increase the surface area of exposed rock that reacts with CO2. Terradot has developed a process for using finely-ground basalt from quarries in southern Brazil on nearby farms to manage soil pH while also capturing carbon dioxide.
Challenges Ahead
While ERW holds promise as a relatively low-tech solution for trapping CO2, there are still several challenges ahead. One of the main concerns is how to accurately measure the amount of CO2 captured by Terradot’s process. Google has acknowledged this challenge in its announcement, stating that it is currently difficult to measure with precision how much CO2 is removed from the atmosphere using ERW.
To address this issue, Terradot plans to take soil samples to assess how much CO2 is captured based on the degradation of the rock over time. However, there are still several uncertainties surrounding the effectiveness of ERW, including the potential for fertilizer in the soil to limit carbon capture and the difficulty of tracking the amount of calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate that makes its way to the ocean.
A Necessary but Inadequate Solution
While Google’s commitment to carbon capture is a positive step towards mitigating climate change, it is essential to remember that switching to clean energy remains the only effective way to prevent further damage. Carbon removal efforts like ERW can help counteract some of a company’s legacy pollution while they make this transition, but they should not be seen as a substitute for emissions reductions.
According to Google’s own estimates, its carbon footprint has grown significantly as it builds out energy-hungry AI data centers. The company is working towards developing advanced nuclear reactors and new solar and wind farms to power these facilities with carbon pollution-free electricity. However, even with this effort, 200,000 tons of carbon removal remains a small fraction of the 14.3 million metric tons of CO2 pollution that Google was responsible for last year.
Conclusion
The investment by big companies like Google in ERW is a necessary step towards addressing climate change, but it is only one part of a broader solution. As Jagoutz, a geologist at the University of California, Berkeley, noted, "Why not try? We don’t have the luxury to overthink it right now." By supporting innovative technologies like ERW and working towards reducing emissions through clean energy solutions, companies can play a critical role in mitigating climate change.
