To support technologies at different stages of development, we purchase carbon removal via two funding tracks.
Track 1: Prepurchase
For early-stage suppliers piloting new technologies, Frontier offers low-volume prepurchase agreements to accelerate development. Suppliers receive funds upfront, before tons have actually been delivered.
Apply
Frontier conducts a prepurchase cycle once a year. Frontier’s 2024 prepurchase cycle concluded in September. To apply, please check back in 2025 for our next RFP.
You might be a good fit if:
You have lab-scale performance and preliminary stability data showing a proof of concept.
Your Measurement, Reporting, Verification (MRV) approach is outlined, risks are identified, and a method is presented for reducing MRV uncertainty.
Technoeconomic Analysis (TEA) is based on a process flow diagram and mass and energy balance.
You can deliver first tons in the next ~1-3 years.
Track 2: Offtake
For larger suppliers preparing to scale, Frontier facilitates offtake agreements. These are legally binding contracts to buy future tons of carbon removal at an agreed price if and when delivered. This purchase track will make up the bulk of Frontier’s spend.
Apply
Frontier accepts offtake applications on a rolling basis.
You might be a good fit if:
The tech has been validated at the bench or preferably small pilot scale.
Your MRV protocol addresses all key pathway uncertainties and establishes a plan to further reduce uncertainties.
A high-fidelity TEA based on a pre-FEED design or similar is presented.
You can deliver meaningful volume (10k tons or more) within the next 5 years.
If you’re not sure which track is right for you, please get in touch.
We use three lenses to make purchasing decisions:
Approach
Does the carbon removal approach meet our target criteria?
Execution
Can this team deliver on the proposal, given where the technology is today?
Portfolio
Does this purchase help us build a diverse, risk-adjusted portfolio of carbon removal approaches?
Target criteria
| Criteria | Description |
|---|---|
| Durability | Stores carbon permanently (>1,000 years) |
| Physical footprint | Takes advantage of carbon sinks and sources that do not compete for arable land |
| Cost | Has a path to being affordable at scale (<$100 per ton) |
| Capacity | Has a path to being a meaningful part of the carbon removal solution portfolio (>0.5 gigatons per year) |
| Net negativity | Maximizes net removal of atmospheric carbon dioxide |
| Additionality | Results in net new carbon removed, rather than taking credit for removal that was already going to occur |
| Verifiability | Has a path to using scientifically rigorous and transparent methods for monitoring and verification |
| Safety and legality | Is working towards the highest standards of safety, compliance and local environmental outcomes; actively mitigates risks and negative environmental and other externalities on an ongoing basis |
We’re especially excited about projects addressing areas listed in the carbon removal knowledge gap database.