Ocean-Based Technology: Capturing CO2 and Producing Hydrogen

Equatic, a start-up based in Los Angeles, is making waves with its ambitious new technology.

The company claims its innovative machine can tackle two major climate challenges: capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and producing green hydrogen.

This dual-purpose approach has drawn significant attention and funding but also sparked debate.

"We have a technology that does two things pretty well," said Edward Sanders, CEO of Equatic. "One is we take CO2 out of the atmosphere and we store that permanently. The second thing we do is produce green hydrogen."

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Equatic’s Unique Approach to Carbon and Hydrogen

Equatic’s technology is built around leveraging the ocean as a natural ally in combating climate change.

Their system pumps seawater into an electrolyzer, a device that uses renewable electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This process also creates an alkaline slurry that captures CO2 from the air.

The captured carbon is then stored in the ocean in a stable form that could last for thousands of years.

Alongside, the process produces green hydrogen—a clean energy source seen as crucial for decarbonizing industries like shipping and aviation.

Equatic’s CEO highlights the efficiency of their method, noting that "the ocean’s vastness makes it cost-effective for storing removed CO2 compared to land-based techniques."

The company’s pilot plants have demonstrated success, and a larger facility is underway, aiming to remove 4,000 tonnes of CO2 and produce 100 tonnes of hydrogen annually.

The Rise of Ocean-Based Carbon Removal

The concept of using the ocean to capture and store CO2 is gaining traction, with support from major tech companies like Microsoft and Shopify.

Airlines have also shown interest in marine carbon removal as part of their sustainability efforts.

Advocates argue that the ocean has always played a critical role in mitigating climate change, absorbing over 90% of the heat generated by greenhouse gases and at least a quarter of human CO2 emissions.

Scientists are now exploring how to amplify this natural process to store more CO2.

According to Sifang Chen, a science advisor at Carbon180, "The ocean is so vast, natural storage is a key advantage over land-based techniques. It's more cost-efficient to store the removed CO2, and we don't need the same infrastructure like pipelines."

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Concerns About Marine CO2 Removal

Despite its potential, ocean-based carbon removal has faced criticism. Environmental groups warn that altering ocean chemistry could have unintended consequences for marine ecosystems.

Mary Church, from the Center for International Environmental Law, cautions, "Marine CO2 removal is simply too risky. It could alter ocean chemistry, causing changes in nutrient levels and species abundance."

Others question whether such technologies can scale quickly enough to make a significant impact on emissions. There’s also concern that focusing on carbon removal could distract from efforts to cut emissions at their source.

Balancing Innovation and Risk

Equatic’s approach attempts to address these concerns by neutralizing the acid produced during its process, ensuring no additional ocean acidification occurs.

The company’s reliance on clean energy sources like wind and solar also ensures the system aligns with broader decarbonization goals.

While some skepticism remains, the influx of funding into marine carbon removal—estimated at tens of millions of dollars—signals growing interest in the technology.

Supporters believe this method could complement other carbon capture and storage solutions.

A Vision for the Future

Equatic’s work is part of a broader movement to innovate climate solutions.

By combining carbon removal and green hydrogen production, the company aims to address two critical challenges simultaneously.

As Sanders puts it, "The ocean offers untapped potential for addressing climate change in a way that benefits both the environment and the economy."

While the debate over ocean-based carbon removal continues, Equatic’s bold approach is undeniably pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in the fight against climate change.

Whether their technology becomes a game-changer will depend on continued innovation, rigorous testing, and collaboration with regulators and scientists.