In a critical stride toward scalable carbon removal solutions, Everest Carbon has introduced an innovative solution poised to address one of the key challenges in enhanced rock weathering (ERW): reliable measurement and verification. The company’s new live monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) tool is built around a patent-pending alkalinity sensor, a first-of-its-kind device designed to track the carbon removal effects of ERW systems directly, affordably, and at scale. This advancement holds promise for advancing ERW as a viable and impactful tool in the global fight against climate change.
This development comes at a pivotal moment for Everest Carbon, buoyed by a $3 million funding round led by a group of forward-thinking investors, including Carbon Removal Partners, Ponderosa Ventures, and the Carbon Drawdown Initiative. These funds will allow Everest Carbon to focus on commercializing its cutting-edge MRV sensor, moving it from a promising innovation to an accessible and widely used technology. The financial support underscores the growing interest in ERW as a significant player in the decarbonization landscape, as well as the confidence investors have in Everest Carbon’s ability to deliver scalable solutions.
At the heart of this development lies the newly unveiled alkalinity sensor, a sophisticated piece of technology that offers real-time data on the carbon removal efficiency of ERW systems. By measuring the additional carbonate alkalinity created through the interaction of silicate rock dust with atmospheric CO2, the sensor provides crucial insights into the process’s effectiveness. This technological leap represents a much-needed solution to one of ERW’s major obstacles: the difficulty of demonstrating measurable and verifiable carbon removal at a scale relevant to climate mitigation efforts.
Enhanced rock weathering operates on a simple yet powerful principle. By spreading finely ground silicate rocks over agricultural land, the process accelerates the natural weathering of rocks, which absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere and transforms it into stable carbonate forms. This process not only contributes to carbon sequestration but also enriches soil health and boosts crop yields. Despite its promise, the scalability of ERW has been hampered by the high costs and logistical challenges of monitoring and verifying its carbon removal outcomes.
Everest Carbon’s innovative sensor addresses these challenges head-on. The device incorporates a specialized ion exchange resin capable of selectively absorbing carbonate alkalinity as water passes through its measurement cell. This enables it to digitize the system’s chemical parameters and transmit the data to the cloud in real-time. The result is a streamlined and transparent monitoring system that eliminates the need for labor-intensive sample collection and laboratory analysis, reducing costs tenfold.
The potential implications of this technology extend beyond cost savings. By providing reliable and verifiable data, Everest Carbon’s MRV tool could unlock a new wave of investments and deployments in ERW. Trustworthy measurement systems are essential to building confidence among stakeholders, from farmers to policymakers, and accelerating the adoption of ERW as a globally significant carbon removal strategy.
The recent funding will play a critical role in turning this potential into reality. Everest Carbon plans to scale up production of the sensor and refine its integration into ERW workflows, ensuring it meets the demands of diverse agricultural landscapes. With the backing of its investors, the company is well-positioned to bridge the gap between scientific innovation and practical application, making ERW a more accessible tool for combating climate change.
As climate goals grow more urgent, technologies like Everest Carbon’s MRV sensor offer a glimmer of hope for scalable, data-driven carbon removal. By addressing the critical need for credible monitoring in ERW, this innovation could pave the way for a more sustainable future, where agriculture not only feeds the world but also helps restore its climate balance.
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