The rising CO2 removing know-how of Direct Ocean Seize (DOC) has been validated for industrial deployment by power large Equinor in what’s claimed as a significant step ahead for the strategy, introduced on 12 November.
A lot as its counterpart, the extra extensively explored CO2-removal technique Direct Air Seize (DAC) removes carbon dioxide from the environment, DOC removes it straight from seawater. Because the ocean comprises rather more CO2 (dissolved) than the environment, commentators have instructed it may be extra environment friendly and decrease value than DAC.1
Working with startup Captura, Equinor stated the 2 companies had efficiently accomplished a joint know-how qualification program, validating Captura’s DOC system which makes use of seawater and renewable power as its solely inputs.
The system appears to work like a desalination plant, in a single description,2 drawing in seawater, with 1% of it being processed by a proprietary system of electrodialysis, a course of already utilized in desalination and different industries. Captura’s course of, bipolar-membrane electrodialysis, makes use of a stack of ion-exchange membranes and electrical energy to separate salt water into acid and base.3 The acid is transferred to the remaining seawater the place it reacts with bicarbonate ions to kind gaseous CO2 that bubbles out, and is extracted.
The water is then returned, and since its CO₂ content material has been lowered, it’s going to draw extra CO₂ from the environment.
It’s described as a scalable and complementary strategy to present carbon administration options.
Over the previous two years, Equinor and Captura have collaborated carefully to advance this strategy, most not too long ago evaluating the system’s design, operational stability, and efficiency throughout sustained operations.4
This effort culminated in “a rigorous, year-long qualification program at a joint 1,000-ton-per-year pilot facility in Kona, Hawaii”. This system examined the system in opposition to 20 essential efficiency metrics, together with security, operational reliability, CO₂ removing effectivity, and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) “to make sure the know-how meets the very best requirements for industrial deployment”.
“This collaborative effort has not solely de-risked the know-how but additionally demonstrated its scalability via established check plans and milestones” stated Lionel Ribeiro, Carbon Removing Supervisor at Equinor. “Captura’s capacity to draw a various coalition of strategic companions additional underscores the scaling potential.”
Captura is now assessing potential websites for its first commercial-scale DOC challenge. Design is already underway for a facility that captures between 30,000 and 50,000 tons of CO₂ yearly, with a number of high-graded areas into consideration in Europe, the UK, and Asia-Pacific.
“This milestone with Equinor is a essential step in bringing direct ocean seize to market,” stated Steve Oldham, CEO of Captura. “Equinor’s deep experience as a worldwide power chief introduced the rigor and demanding perspective wanted to validate our know-how in opposition to the demanding requirements required for large-scale deployment. We drastically worth their partnership all through this course of and as we proceed to organize for industrial roll-out.”
Notes
[1] https://www.weforum.org/tales/2024/10/direct-ocean-capture-carbon-removal-technology/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[2] https://spectrum.ieee.org/direct-ocean-carbon-capture?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[3] https://capturacorp.com/electrodialysis/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
[4] Press launch, “Equinor and Captura validate Direct Ocean Seize for industrial deployment”, acquired on 12 November.
