In an effort to mitigate the impact of their pollution on the climate, Google and other major corporations have invested in a plan to capture carbon dioxide using rocks. The initiative, led by Terradot, a startup backed by Sheryl Sandberg, involves crushing up rock and spreading it out over large areas to accelerate the natural process of weathering, which traps CO2 in water as bicarbonate.
A Multimillion Dollar Deal
Google, H&M Group, and Salesforce are among the companies that have collectively agreed to pay Terradot $27 million to remove 90,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The deals were brokered by Frontier, a carbon removal initiative led by Stripe, Google, Shopify, and McKinsey Sustainability.
A Bigger Deal for Google
Separately, Google has announced its own deal with Terradot to purchase an additional 200,000 tons of carbon removal. While the company declined to disclose the cost of this deal, it is reportedly worth around $60 million if the price per ton remains at $300. However, Google expects the cost to decrease over time.
A Low-Tech Approach
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a relatively low-tech tactic for taking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The process involves crushing up rocks and spreading them out over large areas, increasing the surface area exposed to CO2. Terradot uses this strategy to accelerate the natural process of weathering, which traps CO2 in water as bicarbonate.
A Partnership with Brazil
Terradot has struck a partnership with Brazil’s agricultural research agency (EMBRAPA), allowing it to use the ERW strategy on over 1 million hectares of land. The hot and humid climate in Brazil helps speed up the weathering process, making it an ideal location for this initiative.
A Tricky Measurement Problem
While Terradot aims to capture 90,000 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by 2029, measuring the actual amount removed is a challenging task. Google acknowledges that precision measurement tools are still in development and will be deployed as the initiative moves forward.
Experts Weigh In
Oliver Jagoutz, a professor of geology at MIT, praises Terradot’s approach, saying, "It’s a big deal… I think it should go out of the academic world into the industrial world." However, he also notes that measuring the amount of CO2 captured is still an outstanding question.
The Importance of Emissions Reductions
While carbon removal initiatives like Terradot’s are essential for mitigating climate change, experts emphasize that emissions reductions remain a critical aspect of addressing this global issue. Google’s own carbon footprint has grown as it builds out energy-hungry AI data centers.
A Small Step Forward
Google’s 200,000 tons of carbon removal is still a small fraction of the company’s total carbon dioxide pollution last year (14.3 million metric tons). However, Kanoff notes that "any of the partners we’re even thinking about working with have some of the most aggressive emission reduction strategies… and those are the groups that we really want to partner with to advance carbon removal."
The Future of Carbon Removal
As companies like Google continue to invest in carbon removal initiatives, it is essential to acknowledge both the potential benefits and limitations of these efforts. While they can help counteract some legacy pollution, emissions reductions remain a critical aspect of addressing climate change.
References
- "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"
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- Google’s Carbon Footprint Grows as it Builds Out Energy-Hungry AI Data Centers
- The Importance of Emissions Reductions in the Fight Against Climate Change
This article highlights the growing trend of companies investing in carbon removal initiatives. While these efforts are essential for mitigating climate change, experts emphasize that emissions reductions remain a critical aspect of addressing this global issue. As technology continues to evolve and improve measurement tools, it is likely that carbon removal initiatives will play an increasingly important role in combating climate change.
