Research & MRV framework for SeaO2’s electrochemical Direct Ocean Capture process

Combined with rapid decarbonization efforts, marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) approaches are actively being investigated to offset hard-to-abate and legacy CO₂ emissions in order to limit global warming to 1.5-2°C. These approaches leverage the large surface area and high carbon absorption capacity of the ocean to increase atmospheric drawdown of CO₂. To become effective, timely research, development and assessment of these approaches is necessary.

SeaO₂ is researching and developing an electrochemical direct ocean capture (DOC) approach that has a gigaton-scale removal potential. By using a pH-swing system, SeaO₂’s DOC process captures a pure stream of CO₂ out of seawater without the addition of any chemicals. The captured CO₂ can then be sequestered or utilized, while the CO₂-depleted seawater naturally reabsorbs atmospheric CO₂ over the following months.

Here we present our ongoing collaborative research efforts for assessing environmental impacts to support the ocean safety of our future field trial. We also present our framework for monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), which is pivotal for transparent quantification of net carbon removals, environmental monitoring, and third party evaluation. We discuss the combined roles of direct measurements of the carbonate system and model simulations in quantifying the rate of CO₂ re-uptake by decarbonized water. We also discuss how we incorporate emerging community best practices, including public engagement considerations to uphold responsible deployment.