A startup in Nova Scotia is conducting trials on a technique to capture and store more carbon in the ocean by utilizing a new experimental facility to validate the idea. The ocean already acts as a substantial repository for surplus carbon dioxide, having assimilated approximately 30% of all human-induced carbon emissions since the 1980s.
The company pHathom is endeavoring to encourage more emissions out of the atmosphere by seizing carbon dioxide and transforming it into a format that can be securely preserved in the ocean for extensive periods. To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of their approach, they will conduct tests at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, N.B.
Kimberly Gilbert, the co-founder and CEO, emphasized that showcasing the safety and effectiveness of the local solution is crucial as climate change is a global issue, yet implementing solutions locally is imperative.
The company’s method imitates a natural process where raindrops absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they fall, becoming slightly acidic. When these raindrops encounter alkaline rocks like limestone, a portion of the rock dissolves, neutralizing the water’s acidity and converting the carbon dioxide into bicarbonate. Ultimately, this bicarbonate can be stored in the ocean for thousands of years, preventing carbon dioxide from re-entering the atmosphere.
pHathom’s method involves a reactor where seawater is introduced and exposed to the emissions from a biomass power plant, increasing the water’s acidity. The acidic water is then mixed with small limestone particles in a tank, converting the carbon dioxide into bicarbonate before being reintroduced into the ocean with the same pH level as regular seawater.
Several companies in Nova Scotia are exploring different variations of carbon removal methods, such as alkalinity enhancement. Planetary and CarbonRun are among the companies conducting projects in Nova Scotia to enhance ocean alkalinity and capture carbon dioxide.
The pilot phase of pHathom aims to capture 0.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide daily, with the objective of further scaling up operations in Nova Scotia next year. The company plans to integrate their reactor into a building transitioning from a fossil-fuel boiler to a biomass system.
Despite the potential of carbon removal technologies, challenges such as energy consumption and scalability remain significant hurdles. However, with the urgency of the climate crisis, investigating and implementing promising removal technologies is crucial alongside transitioning away from fossil fuels.
Canada has been recognized as a leader in ocean alkalinity enhancement research, with calls for the federal government to lead international implementation efforts. Although recent modifications to industrial carbon pricing have introduced uncertainty, companies like pHathom remain hopeful that economic and environmental imperatives will drive global action when the time is right.