Efforts to combat global warming are increasingly focusing on innovative technologies to remove carbon from the atmosphere, with a new emphasis on ocean-based solutions.
The ocean, often referred to as the planet’s lungs, is the largest natural carbon sink, generating half of the world’s oxygen and absorbing about a quarter of atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, climate change has begun to compromise its ability to function effectively by making it more acidic.
Companies like Equatic, Captura, Running Tide, and the startup Ebb Carbon are working to enhance the ocean’s natural carbon-absorbing capabilities.
Ben Tarbell, CEO of Ebb Carbon, explains that their technology aims to restore the ocean’s chemical balance to better absorb and convert CO2 into a stable, safe form.
Ebb Carbon enhances ocean CO2 absorption with advanced electrochemical acid removal systems.Ebb Carbon’s goal is to remove up to a million tons of CO2 annually within the next five years by boosting the ocean’s natural processes.
Ebb Carbon operates by setting up modular systems in oceanic areas such as Sequim Bay in Washington state. Their system uses an electrochemical process to remove excess acid from seawater, enhancing its ability to absorb CO2 and store it as bicarbonate.
This approach not only supports the ocean’s natural functions but also makes it possible to integrate these systems with existing coastal infrastructure like desalination plants and power stations, potentially reducing costs.
Ebb Carbon’s technology currently costs over $100 per ton of CO2 removed, but costs are expected to decrease as the technology scales.
The company has already attracted investment from Prelude Ventures, Evok Innovations, Congruent Ventures, and Propeller, raising $27.75 million to date. Companies like Stripe are purchasing Ebb’s carbon removal services to meet their net-zero goals, highlighting the lucrative market opportunities in voluntary carbon offsetting.