Ocean-Based Carbon Removal Hardware
Ocean carbon-removal platforms range from electrochemical reactors that strip acidity from seawater to floating macroalgae farms designed for deep-ocean sinking. Electrolytic alkalinity enhancers pump seawater through modular skids, precipitating carbonate minerals and returning deacidified water to the ocean, boosting the natural uptake of CO₂. Engineered kelp farms leverage autonomous vessels, AI monitoring, and biodegradable tethers to grow biomass offshore before sinking it below the thermocline, locking carbon away for centuries.
Pilots in Iceland, Canada, and Australia co-locate electrochemical units with desalination plants, shipyards, or offshore wind substations to share infrastructure. Blue-carbon projects partner with coastal communities to restore mangroves and seagrass while deploying sensors to quantify sequestration. Oil and gas platforms nearing retirement retrofit decks for carbon-removal operations, using existing export pipelines for CO₂ or alkalinity reagents. Carbon-credit buyers seek high-durability removals, providing offtake revenue for early projects.
Technology readiness is TRL 3–4: environmental impact assessments, measurement/verification protocols, and maritime permits remain hurdles. Regulators demand strict monitoring to avoid ecological harm, and international treaties (London Convention) govern ocean dumping. Research alliances (Ocean Visions, Carbon to Sea) and philanthropies fund open data on alkalinity pathways. If science validates durability and co-benefits, ocean-based carbon removal could complement terrestrial approaches in the 2030s.
