Lithos Carbon, a cutting-edge carbon sequestration company, has been named a fellow in the second cohort of the Compute for Climate Fellowship. This global program, launched by the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI) and Amazon Web Services (AWS), provides climate tech startups with fully funded proof-of-concept opportunities, leveraging advanced cloud computing to tackle complex climate challenges.
Lithos Carbon specializes in using volcanic rock dust to sequester atmospheric CO2 while improving soil health. The company sources a high-quality organic byproduct of volcanic rock dust from the United States. This material is spread across croplands, where it permanently traps atmospheric CO2, enriches the soil with nutrients, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers. Lithos collaborates with leading academics to rigorously quantify the amount and speed of carbon dioxide removal achieved through their methods.
Scaling Carbon Removal with Advanced Computational Models
Participation in the Compute for Climate Fellowship will enable Lithos Carbon to develop computational models that improve scalability and reduce the cost of carbon removal to $100 per ton within the next decade. The models aim to replace labor-intensive soil sampling and laboratory analysis with efficient, transparent, and scalable solutions. These advancements will pave the way for carbon removal deployment across millions of acres.
Lithos plans to leverage the computational capacity and engineering expertise provided by AWS to develop a prototype for a new modeling system, slated for release in 2025. This initiative represents a critical step toward achieving megaton- and gigaton-scale carbon sequestration while maintaining rigorous quantification and transparency standards.
Recognition and Milestones
Lithos Carbon’s selection for the Compute for Climate Fellowship follows a series of notable achievements. The company was named a finalist in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal Challenge and a semifinalist in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize in May 2024. Additionally, it received an award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Carbon Negative Shot Pilot program in October 2024.
Leadership and Vision
Mary Yap, CEO of Lithos Carbon, expressed excitement about the fellowship and the opportunity to scale the company’s technology. “Society needs cost-effective carbon removal, and we’re thrilled to work with AWS and IRCAI as collaborators in scaling our catalytic, data-driven technology,” Yap said. “Our mission is to transform cropland into carbon removal centers and remove a billion tons of CO2 over a decade. This relationship is a significant step in reducing carbon removal costs and laying the groundwork for scalable solutions.”
Dr. Elliot Chang, Head of Research Partnerships at Lithos Carbon, highlighted the importance of the fellowship in advancing predictive capabilities. “We are honored to be part of this program and to accelerate the development of outcomes-based carbon removal while responsibly managing natural resources. By calibrating new modeling approaches with our extensive commercial datasets, we expect to drive cost improvements in monitoring and verification, delivering scalable climate solutions society desperately needs,” Chang said.
Fellowship Benefits
The Compute for Climate Fellowship offers startups access to AWS credits, technical mentorship, and cutting-edge cloud computing resources. Participants will benefit from tools such as quantum computing, high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and Generative AI. Each startup will undergo a 2–3 month development phase, working closely with AWS experts and IRCAI mentors specializing in AI, sustainability, and ethics.
Jon Jones, Vice President and Global Head of Startups at AWS, underscored the importance of supporting innovators in addressing global challenges. “We are at a critical juncture where Generative AI is accelerating solutions to the world’s biggest challenges, including climate change,” Jones said. “The startups selected for the Compute for Climate Fellowship represent bold approaches to tackling urgent planetary issues, from clean fusion energy to sustainable textiles. AWS is honored to support these pioneers, equipping them with cutting-edge technology to create a positive impact on our planet.”
A Bold Step Forward
Lithos Carbon’s participation in the Compute for Climate Fellowship marks a significant milestone in its mission to make carbon removal scalable, cost-effective, and impactful. By harnessing advanced computational technologies and collaborating with global experts, Lithos aims to revolutionize carbon sequestration while supporting sustainable agriculture and enriching communities.
This initiative underscores the potential of technology-driven solutions in addressing the climate crisis, offering hope for a future where scalable carbon removal becomes a cornerstone of global sustainability efforts.
