EP: 38 The Rock-Solid Future of Carbon Removal w/ Enhanced Weathering

In this episode of Catching Carbon, we dive into a carbon removal method that's moving fast from theory to large-scale deployment: enhanced rock weathering (ERW). Our guest, Ryan King from UNDO, walks us through the science, economics, and real-world application of this XPRIZE-recognized technology. Ryan helps us understand why enhanced rock weathering is gaining serious traction: - What it is: a natural process of CO₂ removal from the atmosphere that we’ve learned how to speed up by 100,000 times using finely crushed silicate rock. - XPRIZE recognition: UNDO placed as a third runner-up in the $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, beating out thousands of entrants with their scalable approach. - Start with nature: The process builds on natural rock weathering, which has been pulling CO₂ from the atmosphere for millions of years. - Faster, smarter, verified: By crushing rock and spreading it across farmland, the surface area and reactivity increase dramatically—making the process far more efficient. Carbon capture is tracked, measured, and verified, with UNDO’s IP pending patent based on measuring CO₂ absorption via soil water content. - Added benefit: ERW also acts as a natural soil enhancer, providing benefits for agriculture beyond just climate impact. - Farmer incentives: It can replace liming, potentially reducing costs for farmers while supporting regenerative practices. - Commercialization strategy: Ryan outlines how UNDO is moving beyond research and into large-scale deployment, targeting gigaton-scale impact. - Rock of choice: Among many candidates, UNDO has identified the best-performing rock for both reactivity and carbon permanence. - Retention rate: They’re achieving 90% efficiency in terms of retaining captured carbon versus what’s potentially re-emitted. https://un-do.com