Biochar at $100/ton: Carba and the University of Minnesota Are Cracking CDR's Biggest Problem
The single biggest thing holding back carbon removal? Cost. Direct air capture runs $400–1,000 per ton. Enhanced weathering is cheaper but slower. Biochar sits in a sweet spot — and a Minnesota startup just made it sweeter. Carba, co-founded by University of Minnesota Distinguished McKnight Professor Paul Dauenhauer, has developed a proprietary process that converts plant-based waste into biochar stable enough to lock carbon underground for over 1,000 years. Their target: $100–200 per ton of CO₂ removed. ...