Turning Water into Climate Action via CDR – Garrett Boudinot on VyCarb's Novel CDR Tech

Jul 10, 2025

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In this episode of the Decarb Connect Podcast, Alexandra Cameron is joined by Garrett Boudinot, climate scientist and CEO of VyCarb, a Brooklyn-based startup pioneering a novel approach to carbon dioxide removal (CDR). VyCarb’s technology harnesses the natural carbon cycle of water to convert CO₂ into stable bicarbonate, offering a verifiable and permanent storage pathway that bypasses the geographic and infrastructure limitations of conventional geologic storage.

Garrett shares how his background in ocean carbon chemistry led to the development of a modular, sensor-integrated system that operates at low CO₂ concentrations and near industrial emitters. The conversation explores how VyCarb's solution is being piloted with major industrial players like Rio Tinto and BlueScope Steel, and how the technology could support both voluntary carbon markets and direct decarbonization across sectors.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

· How VyCarb mimics ocean chemistry to convert CO₂ into stably stored bicarbonate

· Why low-purity CO₂ streams—common across industry—are a key focus for deployment

· The limitations of geologic CO₂ storage and how VyCarb overcomes them

· How integrated sensing enables real-time verification and control of the carbon conversion process

· Practical implications for cement, steel, aluminum, and oil & gas emitters

· How existing wastewater discharge permitting can support project rollout

· Insights into VyCarb’s current pilot in Brooklyn and its industrial integration roadmap

· What scale-up looks like and why the economics could reach below $100/ton

Show links:

- Connect with Garrett Boudinot and the team at VyCarb

- Follow Alex Cameron on LinkedIn and find how to get involved with the membership and work of Decarb Connect

- Join Alex and a network of hardtech investors and series B+ tech disruptors at Decarb TechInvest in Boston (September 2025)

Want to learn more about Decarb Connect?

We provide insights and introductions that derisk decision-making and support industrial leaders in deploying decarbonization and low carbon product strategy. Our global membership platform, events and facilitated introductions support commercial decarb planning and business models around the world. Our clients include the most energy-intensive industrials from cement, metals and mining, glass, ceramics, chemicals, O&G and many more along with technology disruptors, investors and advisors.

If you enjoyed this conversation, find out about our portfolio of events in US, Canada, UK and Europe – or explore our Decarbonisation Leaders Network (DLN), and learn why more than 200 members from the energy-intensive sectors have joined to share insights, meet partners who can accelerate their net zero plans and why it’s the fastest growing network of its kind.

(01:31) - – Welcome and introduction to Garrett
(00:00) - Chapter 2
(02:41) - – The Origin of Vycarb
(00:00) - Chapter 4
(05:54) - – How the Technology Works
(00:00) - Chapter 6
(09:11) - - Where Vycarb is at in its funding journey
(00:00) - Chapter 8
(12:41) - - Why Industrial Giants Are Backing Vycarb
(00:00) - Chapter 10
(22:10) - - How the Vycarb System Works
(00:00) - Chapter 12
(27:58) - – Turning Industrial Wastewater Into a Carbon Removal Opportunity
(00:00) - Chapter 14
(29:52) - – Vycarb's Pilot Facility in Brooklyn
(00:00) - Chapter 16
(33:17) - – Addressing Safety & Environmental Concerns
(00:00) - Chapter 18
(36:57) - - Funding, Partnerships & Scaling
(00:00) - Chapter 20
(39:20) - – Looking Ahead: The Path to Commercialisation
(00:00) - Chapter 22
(40:31) - – Final Thoughts & Reflections