Measuring Carbon Removal: Why Eion’s Data-Driven Approach Matters for the Climate

In an era marked by escalating climate challenges, the search for effective solutions to carbon emissions has become more intense. While the urgency of the climate crisis is undeniable, there are still daunting complexities surrounding carbon removal. How do we ensure that our efforts genuinely lead to measurable impacts? 

Eion, a Ridgeline portfolio company, is advancing enhanced rock weathering with a focus on precise measurement, setting it apart in the carbon removal landscape. Enhanced rock weathering involves spreading finely ground silicate minerals, like olivine, on agricultural soil to naturally capture CO₂ through chemical reactions, which permanently sequesters carbon. Eion’s approach to enhanced rock weathering not only strengthens the reliability of carbon removal but also aligns seamlessly with existing agricultural practices, positioning the solution for frictionless adoption and commercial scalability.

“It’s essential to acknowledge the limitations of human behavior when it comes to addressing climate change. People often struggle to react to threats that seem distant. By aligning technology with existing agricultural practices, we can encourage adoption without requiring significant changes from farmers or corporations.” – Brandon Harris

In this article, we talk to Brandon Harris, Head of Strategy and Business Development at Eion, about the critical role of technology in accurately measuring the effectiveness of carbon capture, highlighting how Eion's approach stands apart in a market often marred by uncertainty. The ability to provide reliable, verifiable data is essential in building trust within carbon markets, where skepticism about the validity of carbon offsets can undermine efforts to combat climate change.

Read on to delve deeper into Eion’s innovative methods for permanent, verifiable carbon removal on farmland that nourishes the soil, and its implications for the future. 

Eion is at the forefront of enhanced rock weathering, a breakthrough in scalable carbon removal. How does this technology stand out as a reliable solution for large enterprises?

BH: This technology is critical for large enterprises because it provides certainty that carbon is actually being removed. The challenge with carbon markets is that carbon is intangible—you can’t see, smell, or touch it. This creates doubt about whether carbon removal is effective. Enterprises need assurance that their investments are genuinely contributing to mitigation efforts.

We've seen companies invest in forestry credits or nature-based carbon credits that were later revealed to be fraudulent, or subject to reversals due to unforeseen events like forest fires, which release carbon back into the atmosphere (example: Revealed: more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets by biggest certifier are worthless). If we are serious about addressing climate change, we must ensure that carbon removal efforts are reliable. 

How does Eion’s partnership with Microsoft advance the potential of enhanced rock weathering?

BH: The deal with Microsoft represents a significant opportunity because it allows us to collect first-of-a-kind datasets. By applying the mineral olivine and analyzing soil samples, we can extract a wealth of data. Enhanced rock weathering is a novel approach that is still being explored, and this is the largest deployment ever recorded using the olivine.

The data we gather will help us train algorithms to create a more robust monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) approach. Eventually, the goal is to minimize the need for direct soil sampling, which can be costly and resource-intensive. By obtaining first-party data from these soil samples, we can build reliable models that allow us to deliver carbon removal at lower costs while maintaining quality and assurance for enterprises.

This partnership with Microsoft, in particular, involves significant R&D and the use of specialized machinery to backstop Eion’s MRV processes. This opportunity enables Eion to assess the potency and quality of our MRV, refine their methods, and ultimately make their solutions more reliable and cost-effective.

Where do carbon offset technologies like Eion’s fit into the needs of large enterprises?

BH: Companies like Microsoft and Meta rely heavily on their data centers, which are essential for their AI-driven businesses. This creates a dilemma: where will the electricity come from? The options are either renewable sources or fossil fuels, and currently, the supply of renewable energy is limited. To reduce their carbon footprint, companies like these must invest in carbon offsets.

Enhanced rock weathering offers a compelling solution, especially when compared to direct air capture (DAC) technology, which requires substantial energy inputs. Large consumers of energy can’t divert the necessary electricity for DAC, making enhanced rock weathering a better fit. This method doesn’t consume as much energy, yet it provides permanent, verifiable carbon offsets, which is crucial as we work to meet net-zero goals.

How does AI and automation come into play with the technology that measures carbon levels?

BH: AI models will become increasingly important as we gather more data. With this data, we can build models to predict carbon removal based on various factors, such as soil type, geography, and temperature. We are laying the groundwork now, and as we collect more data, the effectiveness of these models will grow.

How does Eion's work with carbon offsets and offtakes intersect with financial markets?

BH: An “offtake” agreement is a commitment to purchase a significant amount of carbon offsets over a specific timeframe. “Carbon offsets” represent the carbon credits we generate to offset emissions. There’s also a concept called “insetting”, where companies can reduce their own carbon footprints by integrating carbon removal directly into their supply chains. In the poultry business corn is a major input used to feed chickens, but also a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to fertilizers and ag practices used to grow the corn. Eion’s product could be applied on the same fields the corn is grown to reduce its carbon intensity.

Currently, offsets are more popular, but their viability depends on quality and permanence. The ability to trade these credits will hinge on their durability and verifiability. As we navigate the early stages of financial engineering in this space, we expect offsets to gain traction as they become more familiar and affordable. 

What are your thoughts on energy independence and clean energy as key to America’s security? How does Eion’s carbon removal solution contribute to creating a self-sustaining, energy-efficient economy?

BH: One exciting aspect of Eion’s approach is its potential to decarbonize agriculture, which is one of the most carbon-intensive segments of the economy—from the soil disturbance, to emissions from livestock digestions, to the application of fertilizers, and the decomposition of organic matter. Agriculture connects to many industries—from food and fashion to fuel—making it a critical sector for carbon removal. As these agriculture-dependent industries grow, so do their carbon emissions, underscoring the importance of addressing agriculture's role in combating climate change and achieving meaningful impact across sectors.

If we can develop carbon-negative products—such as Net Zero corn or bioplastics—iwe have the potential to drastically reduce the environmental impact of economic activity.. However, it’s essential to acknowledge the limitations of human behavior when it comes to addressing climate change. People often struggle to react to threats that seem distant. By aligning technology with existing agricultural practices, we can encourage adoption without requiring significant changes from farmers or corporations.

Agricultural limestone (Aglime) is akin to Tums for the soil: just as Tums alleviate acidity in the stomach, farmers regularly apply Aglime to their fields to regulate soil pH, which is necessary to ensure plants absorb nutrients in the soil. This is an age-old practice farmers have been engaging in for 1000s of years. It just so happens that olivine, the mineral used by Eion, also removes carbon from the atmosphere while serving as a 1:1 Aglime replacement. This seamless integration into current practices is what makes Eion’s solution promising.

What would the world look like when Eion succeeds?

BH: I envision a future where carbon removal technologies are widely adopted, creating a more sustainable agricultural sector that supports economic resilience. By effectively decarbonizing agriculture, we can enhance the quality of products across various industries and contribute to environmental sustainability.

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