At Amplify Capital, we invest in relentless founders in pursuit of exceptional impact and superior returns. Our mission: to build a sustainable future, focusing on healthcare, education, and environmental technologies.
Our impact centric approach uncovers overlooked value and we are committed to making a difference and empowering entrepreneurs to create sustainable solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges.
The Problem
The path to limiting global warming to 1.5°C is narrowing. Carbon removal is now critical to achieving global net-zero goals. Current engineered solutions like direct air capture (DAC) face economic and scalability issues, like high infrastructure costs and significant energy consumption. This makes them financially challenging to scale to achieve the 1.6 billion tonnes of durable carbon removal needed annually by 2030.
Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will require 5 gigatons of negative emissions annually. The market for long-term carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits has dramatically increased, with sales of future credits increasing 7x between 2022-2023. More than a third of the world’s largest companies have committed to net-zero, and many are turning to carbon credits as a means to bridge the gap between emissions reduction and removal.
This demand highlights the urgent need for scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable carbon removal solutions. Planetary Technologies is stepping in to address this gap, offering a natural alternative to engineered carbon removal systems.
The Solution
Planetary offers a scalable, natural alternative to engineered carbon removal solutions by enhancing the ocean’s existing ability to absorb CO2. The ocean already absorbs 31% of global CO2 emissions, and by adding alkalinity, Planetary increases this capacity while neutralizing ocean acidity. The process, called Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), stores carbon as stable salts within the marine ecosystem for thousands of years, making it a low-energy, cost-effective, durable solution. Early tests in controlled environments confirm successful CO2 removal, and ongoing open-ocean trials show no measurable negative impact on marine habitats.
Investment Thesis
Planetary’s breakthrough technology stands out for its scalability and cost-efficiency. Their proprietary process taps into novel alkalinity sources, optimal ocean location selection, and a validated measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) protocol, positioning the company to scale rapidly in the growing carbon removal market.
Planetary’s leadership team’s strength is a key driver of its potential. CEO Mike Kelland, a serial entrepreneur with a relentless drive for innovation, and Dr. Greg Rau, a leading expert in ocean carbon research, combine entrepreneurial and scientific expertise. Supported by a highly skilled team, the company is well-equipped to secure critical partnerships and long-term revenue agreements. This strong early traction validates its commercial viability.
As demand for high-quality carbon credits grows, Planetary’s ability to offer durable carbon removal solutions creates a strong competitive advantage. With a flexible and scalable technology, Planetary is positioned to become a leader in the carbon dioxide removal space.
Impact
Planetary will play a critical role in reducing global CO2 emissions, aligning with Amplify Capital’s goal of cutting 100 million metric tonnes of emissions by 2034. By leveraging OAE, Planetary aims to sequester and permanently store 2 million tonnes of carbon per year by 2030.
Planetary’s impact ties directly to key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By providing a large-scale and durable carbon removal solution, Planetary addresses:
SDG 13 Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impact. Precisely, addressing Targets 13.2 13.3, which focuses on reducing CO2 emissions.
SDG 14: Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development. Specifically, addressing Target 14.3 by neutralizing ocean acidity and restoring marine ecosystems, contributing to the health and resilience of the ocean.
The global shift toward carbon neutrality requires innovative, scalable solutions, and Planetary is well-positioned to drive meaningful change in climate action and ocean health.
We’re thrilled to welcome Planetary to Amplify’s growing portfolio! Feel free to follow Planetary's journey with us. Remember to subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on Amplify Capital’s exciting companies.
Are you working on something big that can leave a mark on the world? We’d love to hear from you! Visit us at Amplify Capital or fill out this form.