Google locks in carbon removal at a milestone price: $100 a ton

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🗞️ Driving the news: Google signed a $10 million deal with startup Holocene to remove 100,000 tons of carbon from the atmosphere by the early 2030s at a milestone price of $100 per ton
• This marks a major step toward lowering the cost of direct air capture (DAC), currently over $600 per ton

🔭 The context: Holocene, founded by former Climeworks engineers, uses a novel approach that captures CO₂ in water using low energy, thanks to a unique chemistry
• Google’s upfront investment and federal tax credits make the $100 per ton price feasible, but Holocene still has no commercial-scale plant

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Lowering the cost of DAC is critical to making large-scale carbon removal possible, a key tool in mitigating climate change as global emissions remain high

⏭️ What's next: Holocene will focus on building a demonstration plant capable of capturing 2,000-5,000 tons per year, aiming to scale its technology and meet its ambitious cost targets by the 2030s

💬 One quote: “The point of our program is to help Google reach net zero in whatever way most helps the world reach net zero,” said Randy Spock, Google’s carbon credits and removals lead

📈 One stat: Holocene currently captures 10 tons of CO₂ annually with its pilot plant

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