Beyond Tree Planting: How Enhanced Rock Weathering Could Be the Scalable Carbon Removal We Need
A medium-sized passenger jet emits roughly 7,900 kilograms of CO2 every hour. Planting trees – while vital – simply can’t keep pace with that kind of output. The uncomfortable truth is that achieving net-zero emissions will require not just drastically reducing our carbon footprint, but actively removing carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere. And a growing number of startups, like Austria’s Carbony, are betting on a surprisingly simple, yet powerful, solution: accelerating a natural process that’s been happening for millennia – the weathering of rock.
The Promise of Enhanced Rock Weathering
Carbony, based in Steyr, isn’t proposing we abandon modern life. “We don’t have to stop flying now or back to the Stone Age,” explains CEO and co-founder Matthias Rettenbacher. “We need new technologies to continue to lead the lifestyle we have globally.” Their approach, known as enhanced rock weathering, focuses on speeding up the natural breakdown of rocks – specifically basalt – which absorbs CO2 during the process. By grinding basalt into a fine powder and applying it to non-agricultural land like forests and grasslands, Carbony dramatically increases the surface area exposed to air, accelerating CO2 absorption and locking it away in stable mineral forms for the long term.
This isn’t a theoretical exercise. Carbony has already secured a spot in the top 10 of the Climate and Energy Fund’s Green Start initiative for 2025, a testament to the potential of their technology. The company has attracted €800,000 in funding, including a €350,000 grant from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), and is currently in the certification phase of its first project, aiming for certification by spring 2026.
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Carbon Removal
Carbony’s strength lies in its diverse founding team, bringing together expertise in geochemistry, mechanical engineering, environmental management, and marketing. This blend of skills is crucial for navigating the complexities of scaling a carbon removal technology. The company is currently collaborating with the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) to rigorously measure and evaluate the effectiveness of their method. Early results are promising, with approximately 140 tons of CO2 already removed through research projects.
Their ambition is significant: 100,000 tons of CO2 removed within the next five years. Rettenbacher believes that achieving the EU’s climate goals will necessitate widespread adoption of carbon removal technologies like theirs. “Sooner or later, all companies need carbon removal, then the demand will also be great,” he predicts, “if the European Union is serious about Net Zero.”
Beyond Basalt: The Future of Rock Weathering
While basalt is currently Carbony’s focus, the potential of enhanced rock weathering extends beyond a single mineral. Researchers are exploring other rock types, like olivine, which may offer even greater CO2 absorption rates. Furthermore, optimizing the application process – determining the ideal particle size, spreading methods, and land types – will be critical for maximizing efficiency and minimizing environmental impact. Recent research in Nature Climate Change highlights the potential, and challenges, of scaling up these techniques.
The Scaling Challenge and the Emerging Carbon Removal Market
Despite the promising results and growing interest, Carbony faces the typical hurdles of any early-stage startup: scaling production, securing long-term contracts, and navigating a nascent carbon removal market. Currently, demand for carbon removal credits isn’t driven by widespread corporate urgency, but rather by a growing awareness of the need to go beyond emissions reductions. This is changing, however, as regulatory pressures increase and companies face greater scrutiny over their environmental impact.
The development of robust certification standards, like the one Carbony is pursuing, will be essential for building trust and transparency in the carbon removal market. This will allow companies to confidently invest in carbon removal projects, knowing that their investments are genuinely contributing to atmospheric CO2 reduction. The future isn’t about choosing between reducing emissions and removing carbon – it’s about doing both, and innovative companies like Carbony are paving the way.
What role do you see for technologies like enhanced rock weathering in achieving global climate goals? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
