Revolutionizing Carbon Capture: Equatic’s Ocean-Based Solution
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Chapter 1: The Promise of Carbon Capture
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) has the potential to be a pivotal technology of our time. The notion of reversing years of environmental harm with minimal repercussions feels almost like a concept from a sci-fi novel. Unfortunately, effective CCS remains largely theoretical. Current technologies are often too energy-intensive, costly, and difficult to scale and verify. However, there may be hope on the horizon. Equatic, a carbon removal organization emerging from UCLA, has announced plans for the world's largest ocean-based carbon capture facility in Singapore, named Equatic-1, which aims to address these obstacles. Has Equatic discovered the key to this transformative technology? Perhaps.
Let’s delve into the workings of Equatic-1.
Most CCS methods extract carbon dioxide directly from the air, a process that is both inefficient and challenging. In contrast, Equatic captures dissolved carbon dioxide from the ocean. The ocean absorbs roughly 30% of our emissions and contains 60 times more carbon than the atmosphere. When carbon dioxide dissolves, it forms carbonic acid, contributing to ocean acidification. However, isolating and removing this carbonic acid is significantly easier than extracting atmospheric carbon dioxide. Additionally, reducing the carbonic acid concentration in the ocean allows it to absorb carbon dioxide more effectively, meaning that cleaning the ocean could substantially benefit the atmosphere.
While the concept of utilizing the ocean for CCS is not novel, Equatic-1 employs a distinctive electrolytic process created by UCLA’s Institute for Carbon Management. This method is not only highly efficient but also generates carbon-negative hydrogen fuel and calcium carbonate as by-products.
The first video titled Enhancing Ocean Carbon Capture To Make Green Hydrogen discusses the innovative methods used by Equatic to harness ocean resources for carbon capture and the potential benefits of this technology.
Section 1.1: How Equatic-1 Operates
Equatic-1 will utilize desalinated seawater provided by Singapore's national water agency. This water will undergo electrolysis using Equatic’s oxygen-selective anodes, which separates the water into oxygen and hydrogen; the oxygen is released, while the hydrogen is collected. During this process, dissolved carbon dioxide and some atmospheric carbon dioxide react with dissolved calcium and magnesium in the seawater, resulting in solid carbonate minerals that are filtered out. These minerals can store carbon for thousands of years, effectively sequestering it from the atmosphere. Notably, the amount of carbon dioxide captured can be precisely measured by weighing the carbonate minerals produced. These solid minerals are also valuable for the construction sector, allowing for additional revenue opportunities. Before the remaining seawater is returned to the ocean, its alkalinity is restored by dissolving alkaline rocks into it.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Scale and Impact of Equatic-1
With a budget of $20 million, Equatic-1 aims to capture 3,650 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, making it the second-largest CCS facility globally and the largest ocean-based facility to date. Additionally, it will generate 105 tonnes of carbon-negative hydrogen and 803 tonnes of solid calcium carbonate each year.
Section 1.2: Economic Advantages of Equatic-1
So, what makes this approach more advantageous? Primarily, its efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The largest expense associated with CCS operations is energy consumption. For instance, Climework’s Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology, regarded as one of the most effective, requires 2.5 MWh of energy for each tonne of carbon dioxide extracted. Conversely, because capturing carbon from seawater is simpler than from the atmosphere, Equatic-1 consumes only 2.0 MWh per tonne, making it 20% more efficient—a significant advancement.
Chapter 2: Financial Viability of Carbon Capture
To illustrate the economic implications of Equatic-1's efficiency, let’s consider some basic calculations. Climework’s Orca Plant, which is comparable in size to Equatic-1, has a construction cost of $15 million and captures 4,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually at a cost of $600 per tonne, positioning it among the most affordable CCS facilities worldwide. Given Equatic-1's 20% greater efficiency, its cost per tonne should be approximately $480. However, Equatic-1 also produces 105 tonnes of hydrogen fuel and 803 tonnes of calcium carbonate each year, which can be sold for about $5.50 per kg and $1,000 per tonne, respectively. These revenue streams could significantly lower the cost of carbon capture to just $101.78 per tonne. Many experts believe that achieving a price around $200 per tonne is critical for CCS to become commercially viable for industries that struggle to decarbonize.
The second video titled Ocean-inspired tech could speed up carbon capture from ships explores how these technologies can enhance carbon capture efficiency and contribute to broader climate goals.
In summary, while these calculations are approximations and do not account for every potential expense, they suggest that Equatic’s methodology could substantially reduce CCS costs in the future. With plans for expansion beyond Equatic-1 to facilities capable of capturing nearly 110,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, Equatic is on track to become a significant player in the fight against climate change and an influential force in the carbon market. Currently, Equatic may represent our best opportunity to access this groundbreaking technology and help rectify the environmental harm we have caused.
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(Originally published on PlanetEarthAndBeyond.co)
Sources: Equatic, UCLA, Eco-Business, Climeworks, The Guardian, Carbon Brief, Hydrogen Insight, CSIRO, Intratec, CRU