Swiss company AMR AG intends to lower global temperatures through a novel technological approach. Aircraft will distribute nanoparticles of ferric chloride between 2,000 and 4,000 metres above the subtropical oceans.
AMR AG, also known as Atmospheric Methane Removal AG, based in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland, has crafted a technical strategy to reduce the global climate temperature by 0.5 to 1.0 °C within a period of 20 to 25 years.
This will be achieved by merging three existing methodologies into a singular procedure named the GeoRestoration Action Plan (GRAP). The GRAP involves releasing Iron(III) chloride (ferric chloride, FeCl3) from small jet planes at an altitude of 2,000 to 4,000 metres above iron-deficient subtropical oceans. These planes, numbering between 40 and 60, will conduct multiple flights daily from various global locations to distribute 200,000 to 300,000 tonnes of ferric chloride annually.
The GRAP is structured in three phases. It begins with a pilot field test using one aircraft to spread small amounts of ferric chloride over the ocean, testing the solution’s viability and its atmospheric impact, and laying the groundwork for full-scale operational status aimed at reducing methane to 0.7 ppm by 2050. The final phase will focus on maintaining methane at a sustainable level.
AMR operates on a foundation of scientific rigour, with ongoing monitoring and assessment of its project’s impact, adhering to the EU precautionary principle.
Three “CoolTasks”
The chief CoolTask is the catalytic oxidation of methane (CH4) into CO2 and H2O, driven by Iron(III) chloride and sunlight’s UV rays. Since methane is significantly more potent than CO2 in terms of warming potential, its conversion substantially cools the atmosphere. Currently, methane’s concentration is about 1.9 ppm, more than twice the pre-industrial level, contributing to approximately 30% of present-day global warming. The projected cooling effect of this reduction in methane is roughly 0.5 °C, with expectations of further increases as methane levels rise.
Secondly, the emissions from jet engines swiftly solidify in the cool air to form nanoparticles, which then attract moisture and create droplets, performing the second “CoolTask” as Cloud Condensation Nuclei (CCN) by reflecting some solar radiation back into space.
Lastly, the iron particles, once deposited on land or sea, convert into bioavailable iron compounds, enhancing the photosynthesis process in algae and other plants, thereby increasing CO2 absorption from the atmosphere.
Three Reasons
The primary reason is that the method replicates a natural process that has existed for millennia, where nature employs iron-rich desert dust. With human-induced methane levels overwhelming nature’s capacity, it is a human obligation to remedy this.
Secondly, the safety credentials of ferric chloride are well established, given its global application in treating drinking water and its well-documented effects on both the environment and human health.
Lastly, the approach is deemed highly efficient, as it utilises natural energy sources and requires minimal fuel for dispersion, with the resultant CO2 output being significantly offset by the cooling effect of the process.
Cost and Investment
The estimated annual cost for the GeoRestoration Action Plan is under USD 10 billion, equating to less than USD 1.00 per ton of CO2e over 20 years, during which it is expected to eliminate roughly 3 Gt of methane, equivalent to 360 Gt of CO2.
AMR has primarily been funded by its shareholders and the Dutch organization Carbonfix, which supports nascent climate innovations. AMR AG invites investment from those dedicated to mitigating the severe climate crisis, prioritising environmental impact over profit.
Oswald Peterson from AMR AG remarks, “All climate change comes from nature, good or bad. All we can do is treat nature well – so she heals the climate we have so massively perturbed.”