Researchers from Yale University are studying the potential of enhanced rock weathering (ERW) carbon removal technology as a pathway for addressing the climate crisis, with financial help from shipping services giant FedEx.
The Yale Center for Natural Carbon Capture (YCNCC) was founded in 2021 with a $100 million financial commitment from FedEx.
On its end, the shipping company embarked on this collaboration as part of its broader climate action strategy, aiming to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040.
As part of its research on ERW, the team at Yale is examining the effect of spreading finely ground basalt as a soil-repairing agent on croplands, conducting field studies to determine its impact on the crops, the soil, and the downstream water systems.
Building on the soil’s natural ability to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, enhanced rock weathering presents a method for speeding up a reliable decarbonization process that could help sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
The basalt dispersed on arable land reacts with CO2 in the soil, storing it as a stable mineral. This approach improves the health of the soil, reducing its acidification and increasing crop yields while also eliminating the need for artificial fertilizers.
Due to the vast availability of basalt, this CO2-tackling method has a large scaling potential, making it a promising approach for long-term carbon sequestration. Estimates show that 1.5-2 million tons of carbon dioxide could be stored annually in the U.S. Midwest alone.
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Beyond its soil-amending properties, enhanced rock weathering also brings along meaningful economic benefits, introducing new revenue streams for farmers via the sale of carbon credits.
Before this technology can be scaled to larger levels, the global community needs further solid research proof that will attest to its feasibility and the positive outcomes it could introduce.
With that challenge in mind, the team from YCNCC is now focused on providing in-depth, knowledge-based data on ERW that will serve as a scaling foundation, enabling the delivery of safe and trustworthy carbon removal credits.
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