A low-energy method turns biomass into stable carbon blocks for cost-effective CO2 storage
Spotted: The urgent need for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) has never been clearer, with scientists warning that reducing emissions alone will not be enough to avoid catastrophic climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that by 2050, we may need to remove up to 10 gigatonnes of CO2 annually to stay within safe temperature limits. Addressing this challenge, cleantech startup Graphyte has developed a novel, low-energy method for capturing and storing carbon permanently.
Graphyte’s approach, called Carbon Casting, repurposes biomass waste such as sawdust, forest thinnings, and agricultural residues that would otherwise decompose or be burned – both processes that release carbon back into the atmosphere. Instead, this organic material is dried, compressed into dense carbon blocks, and encased in an impermeable, environmentally safe polymer barrier. These blocks are then buried in monitored underground storage sites, ensuring that the captured carbon remains locked away for centuries.
What distinguishes Carbon Casting is its scalability and cost efficiency. Unlike other CDR technologies that require high energy inputs or complex chemical processes, Graphyte’s method leverages natural photosynthesis and simple engineering to create a solution that is both durable and economically viable. “The long-term vision for Graphyte is to deploy as much carbon removal as the market can absorb in order to meet the needs of our globe,” CTO Hannah Murnen told Springwise. The company’s process also enables land above storage sites to be repurposed, adding an additional layer of sustainability.
Read more in Springwise.