A startup based in Nova Scotia is currently conducting trials on a new technique to capture and sequester more carbon in the ocean through a pilot facility to validate the concept. The ocean has been a significant reservoir for excess carbon dioxide, absorbing approximately 30% of all human-induced carbon emissions since the 1980s.
pHathom, the company behind the initiative, is striving to enhance the removal of emissions from the atmosphere by capturing carbon dioxide and transforming it into a form suitable for safe storage in the ocean for extended periods. This experimental process is being tested at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, to exhibit the safety and efficacy of the approach.
The method employed by pHathom mimics a natural phenomenon where rainwater, by interacting with alkaline rocks like limestone, converts carbon dioxide into bicarbonate as it eventually reaches the ocean for long-term storage. By replicating this process in a reactor, the company aims to utilize highly concentrated carbon dioxide to enhance efficiency and achieve measurable environmental impacts.
Unlike other companies in the region exploring similar carbon removal techniques under alkalinity enhancement, such as Planetary and CarbonRun, pHathom’s method leverages highly concentrated carbon dioxide, enhancing its effectiveness. The pilot project aims to capture 0.1 tonnes of carbon dioxide daily, providing valuable insights into the impacts on marine species over a three-month period.
The company plans to scale up its operations with a second test site in Nova Scotia next year, integrating the reactor into a transitioning institutional building from a fossil-fuel boiler to a biomass system. However, the ultimate challenge for any carbon removal technology lies in scaling up operations to meet global carbon dioxide reduction targets as set by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Despite the potential of such technologies in combating climate change, challenges such as energy consumption and regulatory hurdles need to be addressed. While the Canadian government has been recognized as a leader in ocean alkalinity enhancement research, uncertainties in industrial carbon pricing adjustments have raised concerns about the financial viability of carbon capture projects in the country.
Despite these challenges, pHathom remains hopeful that a global shift towards addressing climate change will create opportunities for proven technologies to make a significant impact. The company emphasizes the importance of reducing emissions alongside exploring innovative carbon removal solutions to combat the climate crisis effectively.
