Direct Ocean Capture Takes a Big Step Forward with Captura's New Pilot Plant in Hawaii

A Major Milestone in Carbon Removal

Captura has officially launched operations at its newest Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) pilot plant in Kona, Hawaii. The plant, developed in collaboration with energy giant Equinor, is designed to capture 1,000 tons of CO₂ annually—a significant advancement in scaling DOC technology.

This marks the third and final pilot project in Captura’s technology development program, pushing the company closer to deploying large-scale commercial systems worldwide. The goal? To leverage the ocean’s natural carbon-absorbing abilities to extract excess CO₂ from the atmosphere and help fight climate change at a meaningful scale.

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How Direct Ocean Capture Works

The ocean absorbs roughly 30% of global CO₂ emissions, making it one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks. Captura’s DOC technology extracts CO₂ directly from seawater, which enhances the ocean’s ability to pull even more CO₂ from the air. This process is scalable and efficient because it:

• Uses natural oceanic processes with no need for feedstock.
  
• Produces zero waste or harmful by-products.
  
• Relies on widely available water and gas handling systems.
  

By combining electrodialysis and gas extraction technologies, Captura ensures the process is both effective and easily deployable. Two earlier pilot plants in Los Angeles already proved this concept, and now the Hawaii facility is validating it at a larger, more practical scale.

Scaling Up for Global Impact

The Hawaii plant is a critical step before Captura moves to full-scale commercial deployment. The company is now working on its first large-scale commercial facility, which is expected to capture tens of thousands of tons of CO₂ per year.

“Captura’s journey from lab-scale testing to our third technology demonstration in just three years is a testament to the scalability of our solution,” said Steve Oldham, CEO of Captura. “This facility in Hawaii is the last milestone before we move to widespread commercial deployment of DOC technology.”

The speed of installation also proves how efficient the system is. It took just two months to set up and begin operations, highlighting the simplicity and modularity of Captura’s design.

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Why Hawaii?

The new facility is operating at the Hawai’i Ocean Science and Technology (HOST) Park, managed by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA). NELHA has been at the forefront of ocean research for over 50 years, contributing nearly $150 million annually to Hawaii’s economy and supporting over 600 jobs statewide.

NELHA’s environmental monitoring programs complement Captura’s commitment to ocean health. This partnership ensures that DOC technology is implemented responsibly, with continuous oversight on ocean conditions.

The Future of Captured Carbon

One of the biggest advantages of DOC technology is its flexibility. The captured CO₂ isn’t just removed from the environment—it can be used for various industrial applications, including:

• Permanent sequestration, where CO₂ is stored underground to reduce atmospheric levels.
  
• Renewable fuel production, turning captured CO₂ into sustainable energy sources.
  
• Industrial applications, such as providing CO₂ for aquaculture operations in Hawaii, reducing their carbon footprint.
  

This ability to repurpose captured CO₂ for practical, sustainable uses makes DOC technology even more valuable in the global carbon management landscape.

A Game-Changer for Carbon Capture

Captura’s approach is designed to be scalable, cost-effective, and eco-friendly. Unlike some other carbon removal methods, it doesn’t introduce anything new into the ocean—it only removes excess CO₂, allowing the ocean and atmosphere to rebalance naturally.

“Its rapid installation and commissioning in just over two months demonstrates how our simple, modular design is ready to be scaled quickly to help address the urgent climate and energy challenge,” said Steve Oldham.

As Captura continues to scale its DOC technology, the potential for global deployment grows. The Hawaii pilot plant represents more than just a technical achievement—it’s a proof of concept that could lead to a significant shift in how we combat climate change.

With its modular, waste-free approach, Captura is proving that Direct Ocean Capture can be a key player in global carbon removal efforts. If successfully scaled, this technology could provide an efficient, ocean-based solution to one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.