Alt Carbon, based in Darjeeling, uses crushed basalt dust from mining to enhance a natural process called rock weathering to capture atmospheric carbon.
Rock Weathering Process:
Rocks naturally break down over time due to rain and heat.
This breakdown allows atmospheric carbon to react with minerals in the rocks, forming bicarbonates.
These bicarbonates eventually reach the oceans, where carbon is stored for a long time.
Enhanced Rock Weathering:
The process can be accelerated by crushing basaltic rock, which is rich in calcium and magnesium.
Crushed basalt has a much larger surface area, speeding up carbon capture by 10 to 100 times.
Application:
Alt Carbon collects crushed basalt from mines, transports it to tea estates, and sprinkles it on the soil.
This not only enriches the soil but also increases carbon sequestration.
Carbon Sequestration Efficiency:
About 3-4 tonnes of basalt dust can trap 1 tonne of atmospheric carbon within 2-4 years, compared to 1,000 years with natural processes.
Carbon Credits:
Each tonne of carbon sequestered earns a carbon credit.
Alt Carbon has secured agreements for significant investments based on future carbon credits.
Challenges in Measurement:
Variability exists in measuring the effectiveness of carbon sequestration among different projects.
Studies show discrepancies in the amount of carbon claimed to be captured due to various influencing factors.
Future Goals:
Alt Carbon aims to sequester 50,000 tonnes of carbon in the coming years.
They are establishing lab facilities to improve measurement accuracy and develop standardized protocols for other companies.
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