Fighting Climate Change by burying bricks in the ground: Bill Gates’ bet

The company says it can store carbon for less than $100 a ton, a price the Biden administration has set as a land target.

When it comes to combating Climate Change, there are no rules to follow. Just imagination and results. Many companies are working on eliminating fossil fuels, others on capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere… and there’s a small startup advocating for burying bricks in the ground.

Disney+ DOWNLOAD

Graphyte, a startup backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, led by Bill Gates, announced on Monday that it has developed an affordable, long-term strategy to store carbon, keeping it out of the atmosphere where it would otherwise contribute to warming the planet.

The company claims it can store carbon for less than $100 per ton, a price that the Biden administration has set as a “land-based” target for its climate change funding efforts.

How does this organic brick technology work?

Graphyte, based in Memphis (Tennessee), harnesses the ability of trees and plants to naturally capture carbon through photosynthesis.

The company utilizes unwanted biomass, including logging and agricultural waste, and through a process called “carbon casting,” it dries and compresses the material into blocks. These blocks are stable and do not decompose, preventing the carbon from returning to the atmosphere. Graphyte claims it can store the bricks in monitored underground sites.

According to the company, in addition to enabling low-cost carbon removal and storage, the technology can be rapidly scaled up.

Another carbon storage strategy using plant-based material involves a substance similar to charcoal called biochar to retain carbon. Myno Carbon, based in Seattle, is one of the companies utilizing biochar as a climate solution. It will use wood waste as its raw material.

Other companies are building machines capable of sucking carbon from the air and either using it or storing it, but so far, CO₂ extraction costs hundreds of dollars per ton.

Disney+ DOWNLOAD

Author: Chema Carvajal Sarabia

{ "de-DE": "Journalist, spezialisiert auf Technologie, Unterhaltung und Videospiele. Über das zu schreiben, was mich begeistert (Gadgets, Spiele und Filme), ermöglicht es mir, bei Verstand zu bleiben und mit einem Lächeln im Gesicht aufzuwachen, wenn der Wecker klingelt. PS: Das stimmt nicht 100% der Zeit.", "en-US": "Journalist specialized in technology, entertainment and video games. Writing about what I'm passionate about (gadgets, games and movies) allows me to stay sane and wake up with a smile on my face when the alarm clock goes off. PS: this is not true 100% of the time.", "es-ES": "Content Manager - Periodista especializado en tecnología, entretenimiento y videojuegos. Escribir sobre lo que me apasiona (cacharros, juegos y cine) me permite seguir cuerdo y despertarme con una sonrisa cuando suena el despertador. PD: esto no es cierto el 100 % de las veces.", "fr-FR": "Journaliste spécialisé dans la technologie, le divertissement et les jeux vidéo. Écrire sur ce qui me passionne (gadgets, jeux et films) me permet de rester sain d'esprit et de me réveiller avec le sourire aux lèvres quand le réveil sonne. PS : cela n'est pas vrai 100 % du temps.", "it-IT": "Giornalista specializzato in tecnologia, intrattenimento e videogiochi. Scrivere di ciò che mi appassiona (gadget, giochi e film) mi permette di mantenere la sanità mentale e di svegliarmi con un sorriso sul viso quando suona la sveglia. PS: questo non è vero al 100% del tempo.", "ja-JP": "", "nl-NL": "", "pl-PL": "", "pt-BR": "Jornalista especializado em tecnologia, entretenimento e videogames. Escrever sobre o que me apaixona (gadgets, jogos e filmes) me permite manter a sanidade e acordar com um sorriso no rosto quando o despertador toca. PS: isso não é verdade 100% do tempo.", "social": { "email": "chemacs91@gmail.com", "facebook": "", "twitter": "https://twitter.com/chematopetazo", "linkedin": "" } }