Frontier Innovation Track Grant

Frontier Climate

About this grant

Frontier is an advance market commitment (AMC) that aims to accelerate the development of carbon removal technologies by guaranteeing future demand for permanent carbon dioxide removal solutions. The programme addresses the critical need for gigatons of carbon removal to complement emissions reductions and meet climate targets. Frontier aggregates commitments from multiple buyers to create a pooled demand signal, then vets and facilitates purchases from high-potential carbon removal suppliers. The programme focuses on scalable, permanent solutions that store carbon for over 1,000 years, do not compete for arable land, have a path to affordability below $100 per ton, can scale to over 0.5 gigatons per year, maximize net atmospheric carbon removal, demonstrate additionality, use rigorous verification methods, and meet the highest safety and regulatory standards. Frontier's team of technical and commercial experts manages the process: buyers commit annual spending; Frontier aggregates demand to set an annual maximum spend pool; suppliers apply for consideration and receive either low-volume prepurchases for early-stage companies or offtake agreements for larger suppliers ready to scale; and when carbon is removed and verified, suppliers are paid and tons are issued to buyers.

Eligibility

Carbon removal technology suppliers developing permanent carbon removal solutions are eligible to apply for consideration. Frontier targets technologies with potential to be low-cost and high-volume at scale, focusing on approaches that store carbon permanently (over 1,000 years), avoid competing for arable land, have a credible path to affordability at scale (below $100 per ton), can scale meaningfully (over 0.5 gigatons per year capacity), maximize net atmospheric CO2 removal, demonstrate additionality, use scientifically rigorous and transparent monitoring and verification methods, and meet the highest safety, compliance, and environmental outcome standards. No geographic restrictions are stated on the website.

How it's scored

Frontier's team of 60+ technical reviewers from a network of top technical experts evaluates applications based on the technology's durability (permanent carbon storage over 1,000 years), physical footprint (use of appropriate carbon sinks and sources), cost trajectory (path to below $100 per ton), capacity potential (path to over 0.5 gigatons per year), net negativity (maximization of net atmospheric CO2 removal), additionality (net new removal rather than crediting existing removal), verifiability (scientifically rigorous and transparent monitoring and verification methods), and safety and regulatory compliance (highest standards and active mitigation of negative externalities). The evaluation focuses on long-term potential rather than current cost, with selection guided by a multidisciplinary advisory group of industry experts.

Key requirements

• ✓Carbon removal technology must demonstrate durability (>1,000 years storage)
• ✓Minimal competition for arable land and net atmospheric carbon negativity required
• ✓Cost pathway to under $100/ton at scale with capacity potential exceeding 0.5 gigatons/year
• ✓Verifiable monitoring and reporting, compliance with highest safety and environmental standards
• ✓Additionality and regular RFP vetting process; early-stage suppliers via low-volume prepurchases, mature suppliers via offtake agreements

Funder contact

The notice names a programme contact you can speak to before applying.

Frequently asked questions

How much funding does Frontier Climate offer?

Frontier Innovation Track offers $250K – $1.5M.

Who can apply for Frontier Innovation Track?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; startup, sme, large-company, research-institution. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Carbon removal funding supports direct air capture, enhanced weathering, biochar, bioenergy with carbon capture and ocean-based approaches. Alongside research and demonstration grants there is a buyer market of prepurchases and offtake agreements. Funders and buyers look closely at measurement, permanence and independent verification of each tonne removed.