Putting Carbon Back

The objective was to advance Solid Carbon through a feasibility study. Solid Carbon helps mitigate climate change by removing CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it beneath the seafloor. A defining feature is that stored CO2 reacts with resident basalt minerals and transforms into solid rock.

The Solid Carbon team is an international research partnership, with a core of a couple dozen academic and industry collaborators. The team’s work spans three activity areas: systems engineering (1); geoscience and demonstration design (2); and public, regulatory, and investor acceptance (3).

I was brought onboard by Solid Carbon to advance the work funded by PICS’ flagship $1 million grant (a large sum for early-stage research). They knew they needed help, but they did not precisely how to go about it. I determined the best way to meet the needs of the project was a combination of alliance management and technical work across Solid Carbon’s activity areas. My contributions included: developing the systems model (esp. the techno-economics); scoping business development research; developing content for and facilitating public workshops; bridging knowledge and coordinating effort across activity areas; coaching students; and more.

Outcomes of the feasibility study support proceeding to a field demonstration in the Cascadia Basin offshore Vancouver Island. Meanwhile, Solid Carbon has been showcased on TV, radio, newspapers, conferences, etc.. Its future is a topic of discussion within federal and provincial cabinets.

UPDATE Following Soliod Carbon's feasibility phase, on March 13, 2025 the Government of Canada announced a $24M investment over six years to fund Solid Carbon through the New Frontiers in Research Fund’s (NFRF) Transformation program. This achievement enables the team to proceed with the field demonstration. LINK