Everest Carbon has secured $3 million in funding to launch the world’s first real-time, in-field alkalinity sensor designed for Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW). This breakthrough technology promises to revolutionize the carbon removal industry by providing cost-effective, scalable, and reliable measurement of carbon dioxide (CO₂) removal, addressing a key challenge in scaling ERW projects.

The funding round was backed by Carbon Removal Partners, Ponderosa Ventures, and the Carbon Drawdown Initiative. The investment will support Everest Carbon's efforts to bring its patent-pending sensor to market, furthering the company’s mission to make ERW a leading solution in the fight against climate change.

ERW involves applying ground silicate rock to farmland, where it captures CO₂ from the atmosphere and enhances soil health. However, measuring the effectiveness of ERW at scale has been a persistent challenge. Traditional methods of quantifying carbon removal have relied on labor-intensive and costly lab analyses, which have made it difficult to verify the results with the precision needed for large-scale adoption.

"Our sensor addresses this gap by offering real-time, in-field measurements that accurately quantify the amount of CO₂ removed through ERW," said Pascal Michel, Co-Founder and CEO of Everest Carbon. "By digitizing the chemical reaction in real-time and transmitting the data to the cloud, we can provide project developers with reliable, affordable, and scalable measurements that reduce costs by more than 90% compared to traditional methods."

The sensor uses a specialized ion exchange resin to selectively absorb carbonate alkalinity as water passes through the soil. This allows the sensor to measure CO₂ removal directly in the field, offering transparency and eliminating the need for costly sample collection and lab analysis. The result is a more accurate and efficient way to monitor carbon removal, driving confidence in ERW projects.

Max Zeller, Founding Partner at Carbon Removal Partners, praised the innovation: "Everest’s sensor is a game-changer for ERW. It provides real-time, accurate data directly from the field, offering unprecedented transparency and scalability. This breakthrough will make it easier for the industry to meet the demands of carbon credit buyers and drive large-scale carbon removal efforts."

Since its founding in 2022, Everest Carbon has pivoted from being an ERW project developer to focusing on commercializing its proprietary sensor technology. With the new funding, the company is poised to scale its operations and make ERW a key player in global carbon removal efforts. Everest aims to support the carbon removal industry by improving monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) processes, reducing the associated costs and increasing market credibility.

Everest Carbon’s sensor technology is set to become a critical tool in the fight against climate change, helping to unlock the full potential of ERW and bring scalable, data-driven solutions to carbon removal at the multi-gigaton scale.

Photo Credit: Everest Carbon