Catching Carbon

Catching Carbon is back.

Catching Carbon is back.

After taking some time away, Luke and Jeff return to a CO₂ landscape that looks very different from when the podcast began in 2022. Supply may be more stable in parts of the U.S. today, but new pressures are building, and the ripple effects could fundamentally change where CO₂ comes from, what it costs, and how reliably end users can get it.

In this comeback episode, Luke and Jeff reconnect the dots between the headlines and the CO₂ supply chain. They dig into carbon dioxide removal (CDR) markets, data center growth, sequestration, Class VI wells, traditional CO₂ sources, rising transportation costs, global energy and fertilizer markets, and emerging regional supply concerns.

More importantly, they look at what all of this means for the companies that actually rely on CO₂ every day.

This episode also sets the stage for what’s next on Catching Carbon: identifying the warning signs of potential CO₂ disruption, exploring alternative sources, talking with the companies developing new technologies, and helping end users understand how to build greater security of supply.

The market has changed. The conversation around carbon has changed. And Catching Carbon has a lot to catch up on.

Welcome back.

In this episode of Catching Carbon, we dive into a carbon removal method that's moving fast from theory to large-scale deployment: enhanced rock weathering (ERW). Our guest, Ryan King from UNDO, walks us through the science, economics, and real-world application of this XPRIZE-recognized technology. Ryan helps us understand why enhanced rock weathering is gaining serious traction: - What it is: a natural process of CO₂ removal from the atmosphere that we’ve learned how to speed up by 100,000 times using finely crushed silicate rock. - XPRIZE recognition: UNDO placed as a third runner-up in the $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition, beating out thousands of entrants with their scalable approach. - Start with nature: The process builds on natural rock weathering, which has been pulling CO₂ from the atmosphere for millions of years. - Faster, smarter, verified: By crushing rock and spreading it across farmland, the surface area and reactivity increase dramatically—making the process far more efficient. Carbon capture is tracked, measured, and verified, with UNDO’s IP pending patent based on measuring CO₂ absorption via soil water content. - Added benefit: ERW also acts as a natural soil enhancer, providing benefits for agriculture beyond just climate impact. - Farmer incentives: It can replace liming, potentially reducing costs for farmers while supporting regenerative practices. - Commercialization strategy: Ryan outlines how UNDO is moving beyond research and into large-scale deployment, targeting gigaton-scale impact. - Rock of choice: Among many candidates, UNDO has identified the best-performing rock for both reactivity and carbon permanence. - Retention rate: They’re achieving 90% efficiency in terms of retaining captured carbon versus what’s potentially re-emitted. https://un-do.com

In this episode of Catching Carbon, we sit down with Josh Raglin, Chief Sustainability Officer at Norfolk Southern Corporation, one of the largest freight railroads in North America. With over two decades of experience in nature-based sustainability solutions, Josh shares how Norfolk Southern is leading the charge to decarbonize rail transport and improve ecosystem health—far beyond the tracks. The conversation kicks off with Norfolk Southern’s groundbreaking partnership with Remora to test mobile carbon capture technology on locomotives, aiming for a potential 70% CO₂ reduction. But this episode goes well beyond carbon capture.

We also explore how railroads are collaborating across the industry—sharing test results, technologies, and strategies—as they prepare for a lower-carbon future. This is a rare behind-the-scenes look at the cutting edge of rail innovation and sustainability. Whether you're in logistics, energy, climate tech, or CO₂ utilization, this episode offers a powerful vision of what’s possible when legacy infrastructure meets next-gen thinking.

What if the key to solving carbon emissions was hidden in plain sight—floating all around us in our oceans? In this episode of Catching Carbon, we sit down with Garrett Boudinot, Founder and CEO of VyCarb, to dive into a new frontier in carbon removal: oceanic carbon capture. Garrett shares how VyCarb’s cutting-edge technology is turning the tide on carbon emissions by extracting CO₂ directly from seawater—offering a scalable, nature-inspired solution that could redefine the future of climate tech. Whether you're a climate professional or just carbon-curious, this episode breaks down the science in a way that’s easy to follow and exciting to imagine. We also explore the hot topic of 45Q tax credits and what they could mean for ocean-based capture—can ocean tech finally claim its seat at the table? Tune in for this conversation on innovation, impact, and the massive potential hiding just beneath the surface.

In this episode of Catching Carbon, hosts Jeff Holyoak and Luke Lana sit down with John May, Managing Director at Hamilton Clark, to break down the critical role of investment in advancing carbon capture technologies. From early-stage funding to commercial-scale project financing, John shares insights into how institutional capital is fueling innovation, the challenges of securing funding for first-of-a-kind projects, and why major banks like Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley aren’t stepping into this space—yet. With access to over 400 institutional investors and billions in potential investment, Hamilton Clark is at the forefront of bridging the gap between groundbreaking carbon capture technologies and the capital needed to scale them. If you're an early-stage startup or an investor looking to enter the carbon capture market, this episode is packed with insider knowledge on securing funding, navigating policy risks, and the evolving financial landscape of sustainability.

In this episode, we sit down with Aniruddha Sharma, CEO of Carbon Clean, to explore how carbon capture is evolving to address the 12 billion tons of CO₂ emissions from hard-to-abate industries. With a technology that has been around for 90 years, the challenge isn’t whether carbon capture works—it’s how to scale it efficiently.

The biggest challenge: Finding space to capture CO₂ at an industrial scale

SPECIAL EPISODE! Catching Carbon joins the High Pressure Podcast to discuss the future of the CO2 distribution market and how it pertains to the industrial gas industry. If you are familiar with CO2 capture and sequestration, but new to the concept of utilization and the needs of the merchant CO2 market, this is a great overview episode! Thank you to George and Marie of Ratermann Manufacturing for this fun crossover episode. 

Joining the conversation are three expert panelists, who provide insights into the commercialization of emerging CO2 capture technologies and the introduction of new source gases to the merchant CO2 market. The panel tackles key topics including cost pressures, scale-up challenges, market penetration, and competition within this infant industry. Tune in to hear a deep dive into the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of CO2 supply for the merchant market.

Skytree: Elena Nikonova - VP Strategy North America

Air Capture, Inc.: Matt Atwood - Founder, CEO

CarbonQuest: Michael Laucius - Head of Business Development

In this special live episode of Catching Carbon, recorded on stage at the 2024 Gasworld CO2 Summit in Nashville, hosts Jeff Holyoak and Luke Lana take a deep dive into the evolving CO2 market. Revisiting bold predictions made two years ago, the duo explores how those forecasts have played out and the unexpected shifts in supply and demand.

With the industry facing significant disruptions, emerging sources of CO2 are rising to meet demand, and traditional suppliers are seeing new challenges. Jeff and Luke discuss how market dynamics are evolving and why the CO2 supply chain of tomorrow will look drastically different from today. Whether you're navigating the current supply challenges or looking to stay ahead of market trends, this episode is packed with insights from industry experts.