GHG-R Flagship Destination

Sinking Carbon, Saving Seas
Marine CDR that’s economical, ecological, and efficient

Team: Thomas Jaramillo

Ocean Carbon Capture – Ocean De-acidification & Carbonate Mineralization - Direct ocean capture (DOC) for CO₂ greenhouse gas removal has emerged as a promising approach to remove atmospheric CO₂ and mitigate climate change. This project will combine seawater electrolysis and a Cl₂-H₂ fuel cell; combined, they will work together to de-acidify the ocean through the production of NaOH, which will aid in the accelerated capture of CO₂ while also making use of the Cl₂ byproduct. 

The Cl₂-H₂ fuel cell can produce green electricity and HCl, which in turn can be used to accelerate CO₂ mineralization with silicate rocks. We will test the electrolyzer and fuel cell components separately and together to evaluate realistic DOC performance and assess the feasibility of scale-up. In the Pacific Northwest, we have identified an offshore wind farm island as an ideal location to demonstrate enhanced carbon capture and high-yield mineralization. 

This project aims to provide the foundations for designing and developing this DOC system such that, when coupled with renewable electricity, can enable large-scale deployment of an environmentally sound, energy-efficient, economically viable strategy to mitigate carbon emissions.