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What is SeaO2?
What is SeaO2, and what inspired its creation?
Ruben Brands - "As a father of three, I felt a deep responsibility to contribute to solving the climate crisis. I wanted my kids to be able to grow up knowing that their future was protected. SeaO2 was born from that desire—to not just talk about change but to actively be a part of the solution. I want them to be able to enjoy nature the way I have done - it's about creating a world I can feel proud of leaving behind for them."
Rose Sharifian - "My journey started in academia, researching electrochemical CO2 capture with bipolar membranes in my PhD. As I dove deeper into the science, I realised there was a market opportunity here that could make a real difference. So, I took the leap from the lab to entrepreneurship with SeaO2 because I wanted to see this solution scale and play a vital role in fighting climate change."
Scaling the technology
What are your plans for scaling up your technology? How do you envision SeaO2 playing a role in large-scale CO2 removal efforts in the future?
The ocean is a silent hero in the fight against climate change, absorbing about a third of the world's emissions and much of the heat that would otherwise warm the planet. But it holds even greater untapped potential. Covering 70% of Earth's surface and containing 150 times more carbon than the atmosphere, the ocean can be a game-changer in carbon removal if we work with it effectively.
SeaO2's Vision for Scaling is to co-locate offshore, turning existing marine infrastructure into Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) hubs. For example, we aim to retrofit offshore oil and gas platforms into DOC stations, combining them with renewable energy sources like wind farms for grid balancing and nearby geological CO2 storage. By 2045, we plan to remove one gigaton of CO2 annually.
In the shorter term, we will scale tactically by integrating with industries already working with seawater, such as thermal plants, desalination facilities, wastewater management, and aquaculture. We believe this will help lay the groundwork for widespread adoption.
The marine environment
SeaO2 is piloting its technology in the North Sea. What specific challenges and opportunities does this marine environment present for CO2 capture?
The North Sea presents several exciting opportunities for CO2 capture and removal. One key advantage is its relatively long residency time, which allows for adequate re-equilibration rate between the ocean and atmosphere. This means there is a robust exchange of CO2, so when we remove CO2 from the seawater, we're effectively drawing more CO2 out of the atmosphere. Additionally, the North Sea has high Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) levels, which serve as a baseline indicator of how much carbon the ocean holds. The higher the DIC, the more efficient our Direct Ocean Capture process can be in this region. Beyond these ocean condition benefits, the region also has other key advantages: The Netherlands is known for having a solid, well-established water management industrial base, and carbon capture is already part of the country's agenda, as there are already ongoing offshore geological sequestration projects, making it a prime location for our work.
As with any marine environment, the unpredictability of the ocean presents challenges, but that's exactly why we're here—to solve the tough problems and unlock the ocean's full potential for carbon removal.
UNSDGs
How does SeaO2's work contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to climate action and ocean conservation?
At SeaO2, our mission is directly tied to @United Nations SDG 13: Climate Action—we're laser-focused on pulling CO2 out of the atmosphere to help tackle the climate crisis. But that's not all. We're also contributing to SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure by developing cutting-edge carbon removal technologies and the infrastructure needed to scale them. And while our primary focus is on carbon removal, we're also indirectly supporting SDG 14: Life Below Water by reducing ocean acidification, which helps protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
In short, by addressing climate change, we're also finding ways to make a positive impact on the oceans and beyond.
Utilising CO2
Given the vast amounts of CO2 you plan to capture, what is your strategy for utilising this CO2? Are you primarily focused on carbon storage, or do you have plans to convert carbon into valuable products?
We believe both carbon storage and utilisation have valuable roles to play. CDR technologies like DOC or DAC, which produce a pure stream of CO2, are uniquely positioned to pivot between these markets. Both storage and utilisation are still developing, and having flexibility in our approach allows us to adapt as these markets mature.
Optimal marine locations
The ocean covers a vast surface area. How does SeaO2 identify optimal locations for deploying its CO2 capture technology to maximise its impact?
We have developed a framework that evaluates several key factors when choosing deployment sites. These include access to abundant, low-cost renewable energy, proximity to CO2 storage or utilisation markets, potential industry partnerships, the suitability of local ocean conditions, and favourable policy and permitting environments. As we expand, this framework helps guide our strategy to maximise both environmental and economic impact.
CDR challenges
What's the biggest challenge facing CDR's nature-based/science-based solutions, and what is required to scale and solve them in 2024?
You've said it—in carbon removal, the boundaries of natural science and engineering blur. We must leverage scientific innovation, engineering precision, and nature's vast potential to undo the damage of the past.
In 2024, the focus must be on building partnerships and bridging the gap between scientific research and operational technology. For instance, we need to deepen our understanding of how the ocean works—what carbon fluxes are like, how carbon cycles operate in specific regions, and how we can more accurately measure the long-term impacts of our removal activities.
The challenge is immense, but if we pull together and push the boundaries of what's possible, we can make real progress in removing carbon and restoring balance to the planet.
