Carbon Removal Begins at the River
“We don’t talk about the co-benefits of carbon dioxide removal—we talk about the benefits of this program.”
– Dr. Eddie Halfyard, CTO and Co-Founder, CarbonRun
In a new video filmed at our pilot site in Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Dr. Eddie Halfyard explains how CarbonRun’s river alkalinity enhancement system uses a centuries-old approach — adding finely ground limestone to freshwater — and adapts it for 21st-century carbon removal and ecosystem restoration.
This innovative process raises the pH of the river, improves water quality, and transforms atmospheric carbon dioxide into bicarbonate, which is safely carried to the ocean. The West River site was chosen not only for its strong geological carbon sources and favorable hydrology but also because it’s home to persistent but struggling populations of Atlantic salmon and brook trout — species that thrive in higher-alkalinity waters.
“Conservationists in Norway and Sweden have used limestone to improve rivers for decades,” Eddie says. “We’re building on that legacy and adding a climate solution to it.”
As Eddie explains in the video, this approach is modular, scalable, and cost-effective — opening the door for wider deployment at larger sites.
