Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

The Potomac Project 1 will bury and durably sequester a net 2000tCO2e of residual coarse woody biomass in a Tumulus-type Wood Vault.

In 2013, we conducted a demo project near Montreal Canada in which 35 ton of waste wood was buried in a mini-Wood Vault. Data has since shown convincingly the durability of buried wood, supporting the science behind Wood Vault (See Pitch Deck and attached Project Description Document (PDD) file). The project also demonstrated the low-cost ( less than $100/tCO2) and high scalability of the operation.

In April 2022, we published a comprehensive paper on the science, engineering and economics of Wood Vault (Zeng and Hausmann 2022; https://doi.org/10.1186/s13021-022-00202-0). The technology has currently Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6. 

In the Spring of 2022, we started the Potomac Project, aiming to bring a large project to the real world.

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How Project Affects Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Reduces GHGs (e.g., projects that reduce sources of GHGs, such as through efficiency or other changes in consumption), Removes/stores GHGs (e.g., projects that capture, sequester, or otherwise enhance the "sinks" that accumulate and store GHGs)

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Impact on Underrepresented Groups:

Firstly, the project team is diverse, including woman and minority members. More than half of the team members are under 30. They are particularly concerned about the consequences of climate change on their generation, and are highly motivated. For instance, John, after working in industry for 10 years, found us and joined the project because it offers a climate solution.

Secondly, the project has a major research/education component that involves the students of University of Maryland and high schools through UMD Environmental Monitoring Lab. The students use sensors to measure CO2 sources and sinks in the region, and apply the technology to Wood Vault.

Finally, the project involves local communities in forestry, agriculture and conservation. The Chesapeake Bay region is vulnerable to sea-level rise, drought and other climate threats. Wood Vault offers an opportunity to utilize the abundant waste wood sources, make it valuable as carbon storage, while creating green jobs. Our community outreach has received enthusiastic responses from local farmers who want to offer the land for Wood Vault construction, to MD Forestry Association who is concerned about how to utilize the wood residuals and the job loss after forestry market continues to dwindle.

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Mission Statement:

Carbon Lockdown Project (CLP) is a technology spin-off based on 15 years of research at the University of Maryland, conducted by Dr. Ning Zeng and his team and collaborators. CLP is a public benefit company registered in the State of Maryland (May 2022). CLP specializes in Wood Harvesting and Storage (WHS) with Wood Vault, an engineered structure that buries woody biomass in anaerobic condition to prevent decomposition, leading to a durability of 1000 years or longer. As the technology leader in this nascent field, CLP also partner with other project developers for design, monitoring and verification, acting as an industry focal point.

The Potomac Project 1 is located in southern Maryland, ~25 miles south of the Capital Beltway (I-495) near the Potomac River. The Wood Vault will occupy 1 acre of a Carbon Lockdown-owned property.