A startup based in Nova Scotia is conducting trials on a technique to capture and retain more carbon in the ocean, utilizing a new experimental facility to validate the concept. The ocean currently serves as a significant reservoir for excess carbon dioxide, having absorbed approximately 30% of all human-induced carbon emissions since the 1980s.
The company, pHathom, aims to further extract emissions from the atmosphere by capturing carbon dioxide and transforming it into a form that can be securely stored in the ocean for thousands of years. To demonstrate the safety and efficacy of their approach, pHathom will conduct tests at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, New Brunswick.
Kimberly Gilbert, the co-founder and CEO, emphasized the importance of proving the local viability of the solution in addressing the global issue of climate change. The company’s method emulates a natural process where raindrops absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, becoming slightly acidic. When these raindrops encounter alkaline rocks like limestone, a portion of the rock dissolves, converting the carbon dioxide into bicarbonate. This bicarbonate can then be stored in the ocean for extended periods, effectively reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.
pHathom’s innovative approach involves exposing seawater to the emissions from a biomass power plant, enhancing the water’s acidity. The acidified water is then mixed with limestone particles in a tank, converting the carbon dioxide into bicarbonate before being reintroduced into the ocean with a pH level similar to regular seawater.
Several companies in Nova Scotia are exploring variations of this carbon removal technique, known as alkalinity enhancement. pHathom’s method stands out for its use of concentrated carbon dioxide, enhancing efficiency. The pilot phase aims to capture 0.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide daily, with the process generating treated water for testing tanks to observe its impact on various marine species over a three-month period.
If successful, pHathom plans to expand its operations with a second test site in Nova Scotia next year, integrating their reactor into a building transitioning from a fossil-fuel boiler to a biomass system. While the scalability of carbon removal technologies poses a significant challenge, experts stress the importance of exploring and implementing promising solutions to address the climate crisis.
The Canadian government has been recognized for its leadership in ocean alkalinity enhancement research, with calls for international coordination and regulatory frameworks. Despite economic uncertainties affecting carbon capture and storage projects in Canada, pHathom remains hopeful that global environmental imperatives will drive action towards proven technologies when the time comes.