Vesta utilizes carbon-removing olivine sand in coastal systems to enhance shoreline protection while accelerating the natural process of rock weathering, which permanently sequesters carbon dioxide. This approach addresses ocean acidification and coastal resilience against climate change and sea-level rise, offering a scalable and cost-effective solution for carbon capture.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Coastal communities face increasing threats from climate change and sea-level rise, including shoreline erosion, habitat loss, and damage to infrastructure. Existing methods of shoreline protection often fail to address the root cause of climate change: excess atmospheric carbon dioxide. Ocean acidification, driven by increased CO2 levels, further endangers marine ecosystems.
Solution
Vesta employs coastal carbon capture by applying carbon-removing olivine sand to shorelines, accelerating natural rock weathering processes to permanently sequester carbon dioxide. This approach enhances coastal resilience while simultaneously reducing ocean acidity. The olivine sand, ground to be beach-compatible, dissolves with wave energy, facilitating the conversion of CO2 into stable minerals. This dual-action solution protects coastlines and actively removes carbon from the atmosphere, offering a scalable and cost-effective method for climate change mitigation.
Target Audience
The primary target audience includes coastal communities, shoreline protection practitioners, and organizations focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Features
- Utilizes olivine, a naturally abundant mineral, ground into sand for easy deployment on beaches
- Accelerates natural weathering processes to capture and store atmospheric CO2
- Reduces ocean acidity by increasing alkalinity through mineral dissolution
- Provides shoreline protection against erosion and sea-level rise
- Leverages wave energy for efficient mineral dissolution, minimizing energy input
- Offers a permanent carbon sequestration solution, unlike forestry or agricultural methods
- Achieves approximately 95% efficiency in carbon removal, sequestering 20 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne emitted during extraction and transportation
- Aims for carbon sequestration costs as low as $35 per tonne at full scale