Engineers consider isolating carbon in oceanic regions devoid of life for storage purposes
The world is taking bold steps towards reducing carbon emissions, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluding in 2022 that carbon dioxide removal is "unavoidable" to achieve net-zero CO2 or GHG emissions[1]. One innovative approach gaining traction is the sinking of agricultural waste into the ocean for carbon capture.
This method focuses on permanently storing biomass in oxygen-free marine sediments, mimicking and accelerating natural carbon cycles[1]. By doing so, it prevents decomposition and CO2 release, enabling long-term carbon sequestration. This technique offers an energy-efficient, environmentally safer option compared to conventional carbon capture technologies[1].
The ocean, Earth’s largest carbon sink, has vast potential for stable long-term carbon sequestration. Projects aim to achieve certified, scalable carbon removal by 2030, targeting removal of millions of tons of CO2 annually via these ocean storage techniques[1].
Rewind, a company seeking to undertake this innovative approach, has applied for a permit for a 100-tonne trial in the Black Sea from Romania. The Black Sea, with its depths devoid of oxygen and saturated with hydrogen sulphide, creates a state known as euxinic, making it an ideal location for this carbon storage method[2].
However, not everyone is in favour of this approach. Cristiana Callieri, a marine researcher, is "absolutely against" plans to sink biomass into the Black Sea, stating it would "destroy an ecosystem by upsetting the existing balance." The Black Sea is a reservoir of high, but as yet unexplored, microbial biodiversity[3].
Despite concerns, proponents believe this method sidesteps some of the issues that have dogged other geoengineering attempts in the ocean. Companies looking to undertake geoengineering need money, often from selling carbon credits to companies looking to compensate for their emissions[4].
Puro.earth, a leading organisation in this field, unveiled its methodology for carbon removal via "ocean storage of biomass" in January and plans to release it publicly in June[5]. After input from its advisory board, Puro.earth lowered the requirement for carbon storage in its methodology from 1,000+ years to 200+ years in April[6].
Critics find the Puro.earth draft standard problematic, particularly the suggestion of monitoring for only 15 years after deposition[7]. However, the top question on Carboniferous's FAQ page, another company looking to sink agricultural waste into the ocean, is about whether the biomass will harm marine life, with the answer being no[8].
In conclusion, the emerging standard for sinking agricultural waste into the ocean leverages oxygen-free marine sedimentation to permanently sequester carbon from biomass waste, offering an energy-efficient, environmentally safe method with strong potential for long-term carbon storage and positive ecosystem impacts.
References:
- Ocean-based carbon dioxide removal
- Ocean carbon removal methods
- Black Sea's hidden depths
- Carbon credits and geoengineering
- Puro.earth methodology
- Puro.earth lowers carbon storage requirement
- Puro.earth draft standard criticised
- Carboniferous FAQ
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