Five original stories today, plus four we’re watching. Here’s what moved in carbon removal.
What We Covered Today
🌊 First Open-Water OAE Test Absorbs 10 Tonnes of CO₂
The LOC-NESS project delivered the ocean alkalinity enhancement field’s biggest milestone yet. Scientists from Woods Hole pumped 65,000 litres of sodium hydroxide into the Gulf of Maine — the first EPA-permitted open-water OAE experiment. Early results: up to 10 tonnes of CO₂ absorbed, local pH restored to preindustrial 8.3, and no significant harm to marine life observed. This is the data the OAE credit market has been waiting for.
🇪🇺 EU Carbon Market Under Fire: Italy Wants the ETS Suspended
Italy’s industry minister called for suspending the EU Emissions Trading System, arguing carbon costs are hurting competitiveness. The European Commission pushed back hard. EU leaders will discuss carbon market reform at the March 19 summit. If the ETS weakens, every CDR startup selling into European compliance markets feels it.
🇴🇲 Oman Signs World’s First Commercial Peridotite CDR Concession
Startup 44.01 secured a government concession for the world’s first commercial-scale peridotite mineralization project in the Hajar Mountains. The process dissolves CO₂ in water and injects it into rock where it turns to solid mineral carbonate — permanently. 88–91% carbon removal efficiency. The legal framework treats carbon storage like mineral rights. Other countries are watching.
⚗️ New Catalyst Turns CO₂ Into Ethylene — Net-Negative
Northwestern researchers published in Nature Synthesis showing a bismuth-copper catalyst that converts captured CO₂ directly into ethylene. Powered by wind, the process removes up to 3 tonnes of CO₂ per tonne of ethylene produced. Lab-scale, but the economics are tantalizing: if you can sell what you capture, removal gets cheaper.
✈️ The DAC-to-Fuel Race Is On
AirCo secured $15M in USAF funding for containerized CO₂-to-fuel reactors — shipping-container modules that make jet fuel from air. Meanwhile, Prometheus Fuels claims a direct electrochemical pathway to kerosene that skips hydrogen entirely. Two very different approaches, same destination: fuel from thin air.
Also Noteworthy
🏦 TD Bank Pre-Buys 44,000 Tonnes of Carbon Removal
TD Bank locked in 44 kt of Charm Industrial bio-oil and biochar removals for 2029–2039, at an estimated $300–600/tonne. This makes TD the first major bank to forward-purchase durable CDR — treating carbon removal like a commodity to be secured on long-term contracts. A significant demand signal. (Source)
✈️ Boeing Signs 40,000-Tonne Biochar Deal
Boeing committed to a 40,000-tonne biochar carbon removal agreement. Combined with TD’s purchase, that’s 84,000 tonnes of committed corporate CDR demand announced in a single day. The voluntary market isn’t dead — it’s professionalizing. (Source)
🔬 Carbon Direct: Pair Superpollutant Cuts With CDR
Carbon Direct released a new roadmap for combining superpollutant mitigation (methane, HFCs, black carbon) with carbon dioxide removal. The logic: cutting short-lived climate forcers buys time while CDR scales. Both strategies together deliver more than either alone. (Source)
🇨🇦 Canada Targets $100M for Carbon Removal by 2030
A new coalition is pushing to mobilize $100M for Canadian carbon removal projects. Canada has pledged $10M by 2030 to offset the “hardest to eliminate” emissions, including its military fleet. (Source)
Market Signals
📈 Demand side strengthening. TD Bank (44 kt) + Boeing (40 kt) = 84,000 tonnes of committed corporate CDR purchases announced today. Forward contracts are becoming the norm for serious buyers.
⚠️ EU ETS uncertainty. Italy’s suspension call introduces political risk for European carbon prices. The March 19 summit is the date to watch.
🔬 OAE enters the data era. LOC-NESS provides the first open-water MRV data the OAE credit market needs. Expect registries and buyers to pay attention.
This is the CDR Daily Digest from CaptainDrawdown — tracking the science, policy, and business of carbon removal. Published every evening.