Can you illustrate the urgency of reducing CO2 levels and where existing large-scale carbon capture and storage technologies fall short?
Too much of the climate discussion is in the future tense. We need to focus on getting solutions to scale today. In the past nine months, the U.S. has experienced significant climate-related disasters, including wildfires in Los Angeles and a hurricane in North Carolina, both with severe economic impacts. This highlights the immediate economic urgency of addressing climate change, not just as a future concern but as a current reality. However, despite ambitious carbon reduction goals, progress is slow. In the U.S., emissions have remained largely static for the past 30 years – except in the electricity sector - and we are not seeing substantial movement in other sectors.
Scalable and cost-effective technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere have therefore never been more urgent – but existing large-scale carbon capture and storage solutions have yet to meet those needs.
How does Graphyte sustainably source and capture CO2?
Biomass-based solutions are among the most scalable forms of carbon removal. This is because plants naturally capture CO2 from the atmosphere. At Graphyte, we use biomass as our base material, thus allowing us to bypass the energy-heavy separation process by letting nature handle the CO2 absorption. The critical step is ensuring that the carbon stored in biomass does not re-enter the atmosphere. This is achieved by removing and keeping water away from the biomass to prevent decomposition and keep the carbon permanently captured.
For biomass sourcing, we collaborate with the agricultural and timber industries, where significant residuals and byproducts are often wasted. In timber, these include sawdust, bark, and tree edges, while in agriculture, byproducts include husks and straws. These materials are abundant but are left to decompose, but we transform them into durable carbon blocks. This not only addresses climate change but also creates economic opportunities for farmers and foresters, as well as new job opportunities, particularly in rural areas where biomass is abundant. Job creation, especially in rural areas, is a key part of the climate conversation that is often overlooked.
How do you ensure that using biomass for carbon removal does not encourage adverse environmental effects through forest exploitation or carbon-intensive agriculture?
By using byproducts from existing agricultural and timber industries, we create a revenue stream for waste products while at the same time generating durable carbon removals. On the timber side, we focus exclusively on the byproducts of non-native pine forests, specifically from long-standing plantations in the U.S. southeast, rather than any native timber or hardwood forests. We ensure no clear-cutting of native forests and partner only with companies that have long-term sustainable practices. We also follow strict guidelines for sustainable biomass sourcing, adhering to guides from organizations like Carbon Direct, with guidance from experts such as Professor Daniel Sanchez from UC Berkeley.
On the agricultural side, the situation is similar. We collaborate with rice mills that work with farmers who adopt low-carbon farming practices. In Arkansas, for example, we are working with Arkansas River Rice and Western Foods, both leaders in encouraging sustainable rice production.
What is the barrier around the biomass block? How do you ensure it prevents anaerobic or aerobic interaction with the environment for millennia?
Graphyte’s Carbon Casting process preserves the carbon captured by plants. We do this by removing water from the biomass material and keeping it dry by encasing the blocks in an impermeable barrier. We use metallic materials, similar to aluminum foil, which are low in permeability for the barrier. To prevent tearing, we also incorporate polymers that provide structural strength, similar to the materials used in military MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). The specific barrier material is a proprietary development unique to Graphyte.
To ensure the long-lasting sustainability of the material, we engage in accelerated aging tests, simulating stress factors like UV light to confirm the material's durability and impermeability over long periods. Our system is fully enclosed, taking advantage of techniques developed in the waste management industry to prevent any interaction between the biomass and the environment. We place the biomass in a sealed chamber on top of a material that ensures no leakage or contamination, ensuring the carbon remains securely stored for millennia. We have received an AA rating from BeZero, a leading carbon rating agency, placing us in the top 2% of all rated projects.
Almost all land in the U.S. has, at some point, been a site of human activity. How does Graphyte guarantee the security of its storage sites?
We ensure that the biomass remains protected in perpetuity. From a practical standpoint, once we bury the biomass, it is more logical to leave it undisturbed. The only reason someone would dig up the buried biomass would be for some kind of heating value. Since trees are more easily accessible than encased biomass stored underground, it is far more economically rational for someone in the future to harvest trees on the surface than to unearth buried biomass.
On the legal side, we use a property law principle known as a restrictive covenant, similar to conservation easements. This principle allows us to place restrictions on land to prevent the biomass from being disturbed. For example, in Arkansas, we have implemented a restricted covenant that legally prevents anyone from digging up the buried material. Additionally, we have partnered with a local nonprofit to hold these rights, ensuring the land remains protected. This approach not only safeguards the carbon stored underground but also benefits the local community by returning the land for public use, such as a park or renewable energy facility.
A lot of the buzz around Graphyte is due to it having achieved the key price point of $100 per tonne. What is next for scaling the technology?
Biomass, with its vast potential, could remove up to three billion tons of CO2 equivalents per year globally if we were to utilize all available byproducts.
The market is excited because Graphyte has come to the market with a solution that is ready to scale today.
Currently, we have a project in Arkansas running at a capacity of nearly 15,000 tons per year, and we are expanding that by tripling its size and developing four more plants. This technology is also suitable for regions with limited access to electricity, such as Southeast Asia and South America, which positions us well for global expansion.
