At a gas-powered facility located along the east coast of Canada, an obscure firm is injecting a mixture of minerals into the sea with the aim of combating global warming.
The solution to saving the planet—whether it involves addressing pollution or finding a miraculous fix—may vary depending on who you consult.
From the shoreline, a pipeline discharges a blend of water and magnesium oxide—a fine white mineral utilized in various applications ranging from building materials to antacid medications. Planetary Technologies, which operates out of Nova Scotia, is counting on this compound to help sequester additional climate-changing emissions into the ocean.
"Reclaim the climate. Mending the ocean," is inscribed on a nearby shipping container.
Part of an expanding sector focused on tackling global warming through the ocean's absorptive capabilities, Planetary is receiving support with a $1 million investment from Elon Musk’s foundation and vying for an additional prize of $50 million.
Many other businesses and research institutions are advocating the same idea: that submerged rocks, marine nutrients, agricultural residues, or oceanic vegetation might sequester heat-trapping carbon dioxide for extended periods, possibly centuries. Over the last four years, nearly fifty such experiments have been conducted, with new ventures securing hundreds of millions in initial funding.
However, the field is still filled with debates about the impacts on the oceans should these strategies be implemented on a larger scale, as well as uncertainties regarding their precise benefits for the climate. Critics argue that the initiatives are advancing too rapidly without sufficient safeguards in place.
“It’s akin to the Wild West era. Everyone seems to be joining in, and everyone has ideas about what should be done,” stated Adina Paytan, an instructor specializing in earth and ocean sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Like many marine startups, Planetary is funding its operations by selling carbon credits—or tokens signifying the removal of one metric ton of CO2 from the atmosphere. These carbon credits remain largely unregulated and subject to much debate but gained popularity this century as corporations opt to buy offset instead of cutting their own emissions. Each credit typically costs a few hundred dollars.
Last year, over 340,000 marine carbon credits were traded within the sector, compared to only 2,000 credits four years prior, as reported by the monitoring platform CDR.fyi. However, this level of carbon sequestration remains an insignificant portion of the total reduction needed to maintain a habitable Earth for future generations, as indicated by scientific assessments.
Will Burt, Planetary's lead ocean scientist, along with others at the forefront of these initiatives, recognize they are venturing into unknown waters. However, they argue that the greater risk to our planet and its seas lies in not taking swift action.
We need to determine whether it will be successful or not. The sooner we figure this out, the better.
Suctioning carbon into the ocean
There has been a significant surge in attempts to capture carbon dioxide in recent times.
Many current climate models indicate that merely reducing emissions will not suffice to halt global warming, as reported by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It is also necessary for the planet to proactively extract greenhouse gases—moreover, the ocean might serve as an appropriate site for this extraction.
Funds have already been directed towards various terrestrial initiatives—including extracting carbon dioxide directly from the air, establishing locations for subsurface carbon storage, and restoring forests, which inherently sequester CO2. However, numerous such ventures face constraints due to available area and might affect adjacent populations. Given its role in regulating our planet’s temperature through absorption of both warmth and carbon, the ocean appears virtually boundless in contrast.
"Could that extensive surface area be leveraged as a strategy to combat and alleviate some of the most severe impacts of climate change?" questioned Adam Subhas, who heads a carbon removal initiative at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution located in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
On a Tuesday afternoon at the outskirts of Halifax Harbour, Burt removed his bicycle helmet and put on a hard hat to provide two engineering students with a tour of Planetary's location.
A separate truck trailer was positioned in an open area, holding large sacks of magnesium oxide that had been extracted in Spain and transported via the Atlantic to Canada.
Many businesses searching abroad for climate solutions aim to decrease or alter the carbon dioxide contained within the ocean. According to Burt, accomplishing this would enable the oceans to function "as a vacuum," drawing additional gases out of the atmosphere.
Planetary is employing magnesium oxide to establish that vacuum. Once mixed with seawater, it converts carbon dioxide from a gaseous state into stable compounds that will not react with the atmosphere for millennia. Similarly, limestone, olivine, and other basic minerals achieve this result as well.
Various businesses are concentrating on cultivating seaweed and algae to absorb gases. Similar to terrestrial vegetation, these aquatic organisms take in carbon dioxide from the sea much like forests do from the atmosphere. For example, Gigablue has started adding nutrients into the waters off New Zealand to promote the growth of microscopic life forms called phytoplankton that would not naturally thrive there.
Some people see the deepest parts of the ocean as a storage site for organic materials that would otherwise release greenhouse gases if kept on land.
Firms have submerged wooden chips along Iceland’s coastline and intend to deposit Sargassum, a light brown algae, into deep waters. Carboniferous, a start-up company, is applying for a federal license to position sugar cane residue at the base of the Gulf of Mexico, which was identified by President Donald Trump as the Gulf of America.
Although Planetary’s project might seem akin to a “frightening scientific test,” according to Burt, the firm's preliminary tests indicate that magnesium oxide likely presents negligible hazards to oceanic environments, plankton, or fish. This compound has historically been employed in water purification systems and various industries for neutralizing acidic waters.
Halifax Harbour represents only one of the locations where Planetary aims to conduct operations. Additionally, the firm has established a presence at a wastewater treatment facility along the coast of Virginia and intends to commence trials in Vancouver before the end of the year.
As stated by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the sector must eliminate billions of tons of carbon dioxide annually by the middle of this century to achieve the climate targets established about ten years prior at the Paris climate accord.
The primary objective is to address the swiftly escalating climate crisis," Burt stated. "While we must proceed with caution and honesty, we also need to move quickly.
'Twisted in knots'
Although there is widespread excitement within the sector, coastal towns often hesitate to join in.
In North Carolina, a proposal to unload shiploads of olivine near the coastal town of Duck led to inquiries that reduced the scale of the project by over fifty percent.
The firm Vesta, established in 2021, advocates for using the blue-green mineral as a means to sequester carbon within the ocean and form structures that protect coastal communities from storms and wave action.
Throughout the permit application stage, representatives from the state Wildlife Resources Commission, the Division of Marine Fisheries, along with staff from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service voiced numerous reservations.
As suggested, the initiative entails an interim investigation that might yield prolonged repercussions without any restitution strategies,” noted a field supervisor from the Fish and Wildlife Service. The organizations warned that olivine could suffocate the seabed habitat and endanger a critical area for sea turtles and Atlantic sturgeon.
Tom Green, the CEO of Vesta, stated that the company did not anticipate its initial submission would get approval in its current form. He mentioned, "This marks the beginning of an ongoing conversation with both regulatory bodies and the public."
Last summer, the initiative moved ahead with a significantly reduced scale, focusing on a restoration strategy along with enhanced specifications for tracking deep-water organisms. Currently, eight thousand metric tons of olivine, transported from Norway, lie underwater off the coast of North Carolina.
Green acknowledged his awareness of public skepticism and emphasized that Vesta aims to protect the environment rather than cause damage. He stated that the responsibility lies with the company to appear in local neighborhoods, engage directly, exchange information, and foster trust through these interactions.
Fishing groups have been against yet another climate initiative headed by Subhas from the Woods Hole research center, which has sparked 10 months of discussions and debates.
The initially suggested plan from last spring entailed releasing approximately 66,000 gallons of sodium hydroxide solution into the sea close to Cape Cod. However, Woods Hole subsequently revised their proposal to utilize under 17,000 gallons of this substance, awaiting federal authorization for the scaled-back operation.
In two distinct evaluations, the Environmental Protection Agency stated that they believe the project’s scientific value surpasses the potential environmental hazards. They also mentioned not expecting “any unacceptable effects” on water quality or fishery resources.
However, fifth-generation fisherman Jerry Leeman III seeks answers about how lobster, pollock, and flounder eggs floating within the water column and on the ocean’s surface might be affected when exposed to strong chemicals all at once.
"Are you instructing all the fishermen not to fish in this region during your project? And who will compensate these people for relocating everyone?" he asked.
Subhas' team expects the chemical's most potent concentrations to last for less than two minutes in the ocean before it's diluted. They've also agreed to delay or relocate the project if schools of fish or patches of fish eggs are visible in the surrounding waters.
Sarah Schumann, a commercial fisher of bluefish in Rhode Island and leader of an initiative advocating for "climate-friendly" fisheries practices, expressed uncertainty about reconciling her backing for scientific research with the concerns voiced within the fishing community after participating in four listening sessions.
“If I were really attempting to determine my stance on this matter, I’d be thoroughly conflicted,” she stated.
Moreover, Planetary encountered minimal opposition from residents around Halifax Harbour but was met with several demonstrations against a climate initiative they suggested in Cornwall, England.
Last April, over a hundred individuals walked alongside a shoreline holding placards that said, "Maintain our oceans without chemicals."
Sue Sayer, who leads a team researching seals, mentioned during conversations with Planetary that they were unaware of "the animal and plant life inhabiting St. Ives Bay." She stated that when the firm first introduced magnesium hydroxide into the waterbody, it ignited local passion within a community known for being "extremely knowledgeable about marine science."
David Santillo, a senior scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories affiliated with the University of Exeter, criticized the approach taken by Planetary for monitoring the effects of their initiatives. In a recording obtained by AP, it was revealed that the company’s initial data points in Cornwall were based solely on information gathered over just a few days.
Santillo stated, “Without having a benchmark established over several years and seasons, you won’t be able to tell if you can detect any of your impacts.”
A review carried out for the United Kingdom’s Environment Agency revealed that Planetary's trials presented a "minimal" threat to oceanic organisms, along with a possibility of substantial carbon extraction.
Nevertheless, the firm decided to halt its plan to inject an additional 200 metric tons of minerals. In compliance with governmental advice, Planetary announced that they would look for a local supplier of magnesium hydroxide near the Cornwall location instead of importing it from China. They also pledged to the community that they would not trade carbon credits resulting from previous chemical emissions.
Sara Nawaz, who serves as the research director at American University's Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal, expressed her understanding of why scientists often find it challenging to engage with communities and secure their backing. Initial studies indicate that people are hesitant about the concept of "engineered" climate solutions.
She noted that many individuals feel deeply emotionally tied to the sea. They worry that once an item is placed in the ocean, "it cannot be retrieved," as she explained.
The great unknowns
Not only the local community but also scientists are uncertain about the effectiveness of these technologies. However, many of the underlying concepts have been researched for several decades, and simulations in laboratories can only go so far in replicating real-world conditions.
At a recent Environmental Protection Agency hearing concerning the Woods Hole initiative, many oceanographers and representatives from various industries voiced their opinion that it’s essential to conduct large-scale sea trials now.
"There is a pressing need to proceed with this research," stated Ken Buesseler, another Woods Hole researcher focusing on the carbon absorbed by algae.
Despite this, the ocean remains a vibrant and demanding environment for research. Researchers continue to discover fresh insights into its role in absorbing and recycling carbon. Moreover, anything added to seawater faces potential sinking, dilution, or movement to different areas, complicating attempts to monitor the ocean’s reactions.
"It’s extremely challenging to make the ocean behave as desired," stated Sarah Cooley, a carbon cycle scientist with experience at the nonprofit organization Ocean Conservancy and within the federal government.
Katja Fennel, who leads the oceanography department at Dalhousie University, focuses her efforts on modeling the amount of carbon that Planetary captures in Halifax Harbour—an estimate that carries certain uncertainties.
She shares leadership duties with others for a team of scholars who keep an eye on the firm’s initiative by analyzing water samples, sensors, and sediment cores collected from various spots across the bay. On certain occasions, her crew injects a reddish dye into the pipelines to observe how the minerals break down and make their way to the ocean.
Fennel mentioned that the models are essential for simulating scenarios where Planetary takes no action. Additionally, these models are crucial due to the vastness and depth of the ocean, making it impractical to gather sufficient data to fully understand it.
She stated, 'We aren’t able to take measurements continuously at every location.'
Queries remain regarding the duration for which the captured carbon will persist.
This is particularly crucial for businesses dealing with algae, wood chips, or similar organic substances, as these materials might emit carbon dioxide into the air based on their decomposition location.
As plants and algae descend deeper, they keep more carbon trapped over extended periods. However, achieving this consistently isn’t straightforward. A defunct firm named Running Tide had dumped approximately 20,000 metric tons of wood chips into Iceland’s seas, asserting that the carbon might remain stored anywhere from just half a century up to around three thousand years.
Although these solutions might be effective in the long run, many businesses operate on such a small scale that they cannot significantly impact the climate. Achieving present climate objectives would require enormous quantities of resources, energy, and capital to expand operations.
David Ho, co-founder and chief science officer at the nonprofit organization (C)Worthy, which focuses on validating the effects of marine-based carbon sequestration, posed this query: “The issue is, how do we handle such an increase when scaling it up to billions of tons annually?” He added, “This remains to be seen.”
Planetary's Burt envisions a scenario where minerals flow through power stations and water treatment centers located along all significant coastlines globally. However, this vision necessitates a substantial, consistent supply of magnesium oxide or comparable minerals, as well as the necessary energy for extracting and moving these materials.
The proliferation of seaweed and algae would have to increase dramatically. According to estimates from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, approximately two-thirds of the globe’s coastlines might require coverage with kelp just to start making an impact on climate change. Seafields, a firm conducting trials in the Caribbean, plans to establish a Sargassum cultivation area stretching over 200 miles between Brazil and Western Africa.
The expansion might intensify environmental damage that small-scale tests fail to reveal, with consequences potentially spreading worldwide due to global water circulation.
However, according to Ho, the option of not attempting is perpetual climate change.
Running out of time
At the end of last year, Planetary revealed that its project in Nova Scotia had successfully sequestered 138 metric tons of carbon dioxide. This achievement enabled the company to provide precisely 138 carbon credits to two initial investors: Shopify and Stripe.
Many studying the ocean find it uneasy to monetize their work.
"While it encourages further research and scientific advancement, which is positive, it also creates opportunities for exploiting the system," explained Paytan, a professor at UC Santa Cruz, who has received inquiries from multiple start-ups seeking collaboration.
She highlighted firms that allegedly exaggerated their carbon capture efforts, despite claiming to regenerate rainforests in Peru and replace soot-emitting cookstoves in Africa with cleaner alternatives.
However, without additional government-sponsored research, many firms informed the Associated Press that advancing this sector seems unlikely unless they can sell credits.
"As it stands currently, we have structured our system so that these startup companies are responsible for developing the methods," explained Ho.
In his shipping container office near Halifax Harbour, Burt mentioned that he grasps the hesitation surrounding credit sales. He emphasized that Planetary prioritizes transparent, responsible, and careful operations. However, he also pointed out that there’s a necessity for startup companies capable of moving more swiftly than academic institutions.
"He mentioned that we can't examine this solution at the pace we have been analyzing the issues." He adds that there isn't sufficient time.
The past year was recorded as the warmest in Earth's history, despite predictions indicating that global carbon emissions will surge to yet another peak.
Urgently and significantly reducing emissions is crucial," stated Fennel, who researches Planetary’s initiative. "It's far more challenging and expensive to remove CO2 from the atmosphere once it has been emitted, rather than preventing those emissions initially.
The sector remains steadfast in its progress. In February, Planetary announced that they had stored a cumulative amount of 1,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide in the sea. Meanwhile, Carboniferous conducted their initial experiment involving depositing sugarcane onto the seabed earlier this year. Also early in the year, Gigablue entered into an agreement to secure 200,000 carbon credits aimed at distributing nutrient-enriched particulates throughout the ocean.
An increasing number of businesses are employing electricity to modify seawater molecules, aiming to encourage the ocean to sequester additional amounts of carbon dioxide. Recently, the start-up Ebb Carbon entered into an agreement with Microsoft to supply as many as 350,000 carbon credits. Additionally, Captura, backed partly by financiers linked to petroleum and natural gas extraction, extended its activities from California to Hawaii.
It remains uncertain whether the U.S. government will hinder or aid efforts related to combating climate change in the oceans moving ahead. Policy developments continue to evolve as the Trump administration aims to dismantle numerous environmental rules and reassess the scientific evidence indicating that greenhouse gases pose a risk to public well-being.
Although White House advisor Musk has softened some of his previous comments regarding climate change, his organization pledged $100 million four years ago to sponsor a contest aimed at finding the most effective method for capturing carbon. The initiative includes Planetary as one of the contenders vying for the top award.
The victor will be revealed on April 23, which falls just one day after Earth Day.
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