As Running Tide folds and Microsoft and Google scramble to figure out how to make up for rising emissions from AI and data centres, what’s next for the carbon removals market?
Recovering lawyer John Lin and Dr. Amber Janda, co-founders of Tau Carbon, join us to discuss. They discuss their journey from academics and different career paths to establishing a company focused on carbon removal using innovative biomass storage solutions. The conversation explores the inspiration behind their venture, the technical and logistical challenges they faced, and the implications of carbon market dynamics. Highlighting the importance of low-cost, scalable solutions, Tau Carbon aims to preserve biomass in an above-ground system to efficiently capture and retain CO2. The co-founders also reflect on the competitive landscape, referencing similar startups like Graphyte, and discuss policy needs to support broader adoption of carbon removal technologies.
00:00 Introduction to Wicked Problems
00:14 Inspiration and Challenges in Climate Tech
01:24 UK Climate Politics and Global Tech Reactions
03:18 Introduction to Tau Carbon
04:34 John's Journey from Law to Climate Tech
06:48 Amber's Path in Chemical Engineering
09:58 The Genesis of Tau Carbon
14:37 Challenges and Evolution in Carbon Removal
20:00 Business Viability and Market Challenges
25:11 Reacting to Running Tide's Unexpected Exit
25:57 Challenges in Carbon Credit Market
27:23 Measurability and MRV in Carbon Removal
28:04 Technical Aspects of Carbon Storage
31:39 Comparing Approaches: Tau vs. Graphyte
37:08 Policy and Market Dynamics in CDR
42:35 Future Prospects and Final Thoughts
Catalysts for John and Amber
Greta Thunberg - John was deeply inspired by Greta Thunberg’s activism, which galvanized people worldwide to take action on climate change. Her ability to mobilize masses highlighted the power of collective action.
"An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore - Both John and Amber cited this seminal documentary as a major influence. It played a pivotal role in raising awareness about the urgency of climate change and inspired them to pursue solutions in this field.
Watch "An Inconvenient Truth" on Amazon
"Good Night, and Good Luck" (2005) - Amber mentioned this film about Edward R. Murrow's battle against Senator McCarthy as influential. It underscored the importance of using one's skills and platforms for the greater good.
Tau Carbon Founders on What's Next for CDR