Flux
Climate Transformation Fund • Kenya
Pioneering enhanced rock weathering in Africa
Flux is the first company to start doing Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) in Africa where the potential co-benefits of the method are the highest. They spread crushed silicate rocks on farmlands in Africa to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and to improve soil quality, improving farmers' yields and climate resilience. Flux is currently conducting a pilot project with smallholder farmers in Kenya and partnering with large-scale commercial farms and existing rock quarries across the continent for rapid scaling. Their gathering of data on how ERW works in African soils will help develop the method and be a catalyst for ERW across the continent.
Flux was chosen for broadening the geographical focus of ERW in a way that both increases the scientific understanding of how the method works in different soils and climates, and where the potential co-benefits are the highest. Flux's commitment to improving agricultural yields and soil quality provides significant social and environmental co-benefits. The project utilizes existing resources, such as basalt quarries used in road construction, and Kenya's renewable energy grid.
Robert Höglund
Head of Climate Strategy & CDR
Durable carbon removal (CDR)
CDR is one of the most crucial solutions to reach and maintain net-zero emissions and limit global warming. To counterbalance fossil emissions from the long carbon cycle, the carbon removed needs to be stored durably. While solutions for durably removing carbon are still nascent, pre-purchasing carbon removal from startups can help kickstart the sector, making it an affordable and climate-relevant solution in the future. When credits or certificates are bought, they will be retired, meaning they cannot be resold and will not be counted as financial instruments.
Geochemical Solutions, incl. Enhanced rock weathering
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) refers to capturing CO₂ by spreading crushed silicate rocks on land. In addition to naturally capturing CO₂, this method acts as a fertilizer for the soil it is applied to. The technology grinds waste- or freshly mined ultramafic rocks to a fine powder, that is spread on land. Once applied, the powder reacts with CO₂ solved in water, forming minerals in the soil and bicarbonates in rivers.
Durable carbon removal (CDR)
Namibia
PyroCCS pioneers sustainable industrial biochar carbon removal in the Global South, deploying its own low-cost, robust, pyrolysis systems powered by renewable energy and backed by a digital measurement and reporting solution. These plants efficiently convert invasive acacia bushes in Namibia, a significant threat to the savanna ecosystem, into high-quality biochar, while providing critical employment in regions with high youth unemployment rates. PyroCCS's scalable technology, which they are also offering as a solution to other project developers, not only captures carbon but also supports local agricultural and environmental recovery as well as food security.
Durable carbon removal (CDR)
South Africa
CHAI will work on the high impact project of transitioning a portfolio of hospitals in South Africa's Western Cape Province to renewable energy. This could be a high impact measure that is currently not occurring due to the limited capacity of the department of health and because of bureaucratic hurdles to innovative financial and energy contracts. The project has the potential to reduce emissions by hundreds of thousands of tons, and leverages CHAI's extensive experience in health sector procurement and innovative finance.
Durable carbon removal (CDR)
Tanzania
This project develops a mobile app for regreening techniques like Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). The app delivers real-time, location-specific advice directly to farmers' phones. This approach reduces intervention costs by eliminating the need for in-person visits to every location. We already support Justdiggit’s regular work since 2021, and now added this project because it builds on proven FMNR methods, increasing cost-efficiency and potential for rapid scaling in dry landscapes.