Potentials of Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) Carbon Insetting in Southeast Asia to Form a More Sustainable Supply Chain: Life Cycle Analysis and Techno-Economic Analysis

Keywords: Enhanced Rock Weathering, Carbon Dioxide Removal, Life Cycle Analysis, Sustainable Supply Chain, Southeast Asia

Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) carbon credit development practices have predominantly been conducted in non-tropical regions, often hindered by the lack of robust Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) methodologies. In response to the pressing demand for scalable and durable carbon removal solutions, this research investigates the deployment of ERW on agricultural land in Southeast Asia to generate high-quality carbon credits. Using Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to assess emissions and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) for credit generation, we evaluated key processes including feedstock processing, transportation, deployment, MRV, and post-application activities. Addressing debates surrounding the potential overestimation of ERW’s carbon removal capabilities, we incorporated MRV into the credit life cycle—a component surprisingly overlooked in existing literature despite its substantial contribution to emissions and costs. Furthermore, our study goes beyond conventional carbon offsetting by integrating ERW within supply chains to enable carbon insetting, offering added benefits to both upstream and downstream stakeholders. Ultimately, this research lays a critical foundation for refining ERW carbon credit methodologies by improving Scope 3 emissions quantification, thereby advancing sustainable supply chains and contributing to global climate mitigation objectives.