Graphyte, a startup supported by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, has unveiled a new approach to carbon dioxide removal called “Carbon Casting”. This innovative technology has the ability to permanently remove billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere for over 1,000 years, and all at a cost of under $100 per ton.
The development of Carbon Casting by Graphyte is aimed at tackling the urgent need for scalable carbon removal to combat climate change. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), between 5 and 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide must be removed annually by 2050. However, current methods fall far short of this objective due to obstacles such as insufficient timeframes for carbon removal, high costs, and technical challenges in scaling up.
Barclay Rogers, CEO of Graphyte, highlighted the importance of finding a solution that can be immediately scaled without consuming excessive energy. Carbon Casting harnesses photosynthesis to capture carbon and combines it with engineering techniques to ensure long-term storage. This breakthrough technology offers an affordable and effective means of removing billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, providing a much-needed solution in the fight against climate change.
Graphyte’s Carbon Casting technology addresses the key challenges of large-scale carbon dioxide removal. It is designed to be durable, removing carbon from the atmosphere for over 1,000 years. Moreover, it is cost-effective, with production costs below $100 per ton, making it feasible to purchase carbon removals on a large scale. Lastly, Carbon Casting is highly scalable, relying on existing biomass resources, such as wood by-products and crop residues, which would otherwise be wasted or burned.
By enabling farmers and foresters to participate in carbon removal efforts, Carbon Casting not only provides an effective solution to climate change but also benefits the agricultural and forestry industries. Graphyte’s innovative technology gives these sectors an opportunity to contribute to climate solutions by repurposing their existing biomass resources.
“By combining the strength of nature-based approaches with the lasting impact of engineered removal, Graphyte has created a unique solution that accelerates progress toward the billions of tons of carbon removal needed to protect our planet,” said Carmichael Roberts of Breakthrough Energy Ventures. “As we work to accelerate the clean energy transition, Carbon Casting provides an opportunity to deliver higher volumes of permanent removals at an affordable price today.”
