At the Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) conference held this week in Antwerp, colleagues Pol Knops and Lieke van Zon showcased a promising step forward in the field of carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Their poster, titled “Bridging Science and Practice: A Certification Protocol for CO₂ Uptake in Enhanced Rock Weathering,“ presents a novel approach to quantifying CO₂ sequestration in ERW projects: an essential development for scaling this nature-based climate solution.
ERW: a powerful tool
Enhanced Rock Weathering, particularly using olivine and other silicate minerals, is gaining attention as a powerful tool to help the EU meet its climate neutrality targets by 2050. However, its large-scale adoption has been slowed by challenges in reliably measuring and certifying the amount of CO₂ removed.
Certification protocol for ERW
Addressing this gap, Oncra has developed a certification protocol that balances scientific precision with practical application. The protocol uses a conservative, empirically validated model that includes the Vink & Knops (2023) Shrinking Core Model. This model considers mineral composition, particle size, and environmental conditions to estimate carbon uptake, allowing for a more standardized and transparent approach to certification.
Initial findings show that terrestrial ERW with olivine can sequester approximately 0.8 to 1.0 kg of CO₂ per kg of olivine applied—depending on variables such as mineral quality and weathering duration.
While the protocol marks a significant advancement in bringing ERW closer to large-scale implementation, challenges like regional variability, data gaps, and potential environmental trade-offs remain. Nonetheless, the work in the protocol done by Knops and van Zon aligns closely with the EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF), paving the way for credible and scalable climate solutions.
Bridging science and practice
The presented model is a practical protocol for carbon removers: open and transparent for all stakeholders to use, and a valuable step toward advancing the practical deployment of ERW. Their contribution at the ERW conference highlights how bridging science and practice is key to accelerating climate action and making enhanced weathering a viable tool in the global carbon removal toolbox.
Find the poster design they presented here.