A Nova Scotia startup is conducting trials of a method to capture and sequester more carbon in the ocean, utilizing a new pilot facility to validate the concept. The ocean serves as a significant reservoir for surplus carbon dioxide, having absorbed approximately 30% of all human-induced carbon emissions since the 1980s.
pHathom, the company behind this initiative, aims to enhance the removal of emissions from the atmosphere by capturing carbon dioxide and transforming it into a form suitable for secure storage in the ocean over extended periods. The experimental testing will take place at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, N.B.
Kimberly Gilbert, the co-founder and CEO, emphasized the importance of demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of their approach, highlighting the necessity of proving local solutions for global climate challenges. The company’s technique replicates a natural process where raindrops absorb carbon dioxide from the air, becoming slightly acidic, and upon contact with alkaline rocks like limestone, the carbon dioxide is converted into bicarbonate.
By mimicking this process in a controlled environment, pHathom’s method involves exposing seawater to the emissions from a biomass power plant, altering the water’s acidity. The acidic water is then mixed with small limestone particles in a tank, converting the carbon dioxide into bicarbonate before returning it to the ocean with the same pH level as regular seawater.
In Nova Scotia, various companies are exploring different versions of carbon removal approaches under the field of alkalinity enhancement. pHathom’s method stands out for its use of highly concentrated carbon dioxide, enhancing efficiency in the process while facilitating direct measurement of environmental impacts.
The initial pilot phase aims to capture 0.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide daily, with plans for a larger-scale test site in Nova Scotia next year. The ultimate goal is to integrate the reactor into a building transitioning from a fossil-fuel boiler to a biomass system. However, scaling up any carbon removal technology poses significant challenges, especially in meeting global carbon dioxide removal targets to combat climate change effectively.
Despite the obstacles, the potential of ocean alkalinity enhancement as a climate mitigation technology is recognized, with Canadian efforts in this area being acknowledged on the global stage. While economic uncertainties may impact the progress of carbon capture projects, the necessity of transitioning away from fossil fuels remains crucial to the success of such initiatives.
Looking ahead, Gilbert remains hopeful that as environmental and economic imperatives align, there will be a concerted global push towards adopting proven technologies for carbon removal.