Mati Carbon Wins $50M XPrize for Novel Carbon Removal Tech

The XPrize Foundation announced the winners of its $100 million carbon removal competition. Houston-based startup Mati Carbon took home the $50 million grand prize for its enhanced rock weathering technology, which involves spreading crushed basalt on farms to sequester atmospheric CO2. Mati Carbon's data-driven approach, rigorous verification process, and software platform impressed the judges. While direct air capture and ocean-based solutions didn't meet the 1,000-tonne removal threshold, several received milestone awards, highlighting their progress. Scaling up carbon removal technologies remains crucial for tackling climate change.