Project Overview | SEAO2-CDR

The problem

There is no doubt that the planet is warming as a result of a rapid increase in the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. There is also no doubt that human activities such as burning fossil fuels are the chief culprit in driving this rise in emissions, thus ending emissions is essential if we are to limit the extent of warming to <2˚C in line with the Paris Agreement. However, even the most ambitious Net Zero targets cannot achieve climate neutrality through green technologies and clean energy alone. Actively removing CO₂ from the atmosphere has consequently become an integral requirement of all Net Zero pathways and has prompted a scientific race against time to find approaches that can sustainably, durably and safely capture and store CO₂.

The role of the ocean

The ocean has huge potential to help meet global Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) targets as it is the largest surface reservoir of exchangeable carbon and covers 70% of Earth’s surface. Natural processes already enable the ocean to absorb approximately 10 billion tonnes of CO₂ each year (equivalent to 25% of annual human-induced emissions), thus small enhancements in the rate of CO₂ incorporation into this vast reservoir could translate into the enormous drawdown of atmospheric CO₂.

Marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR)

Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) approaches typically seek to increase the absorption of CO₂ into seawater by stimulating, duplicating or imitating natural biological or chemical processes. For example biological mCDR approaches aim to convert dissolved CO₂ into marine phytoplankton or seaweed via photosynthesis, with enhanced production and preservation of the organic matter preventing the return of the trapped carbon back to the atmosphere. Alternatively, chemical mCDR approaches increase the transfer of atmospheric CO₂ into seawater by adding alkalinity (neutralising the acidity of the ocean) or extracting CO₂ directly through external processing (with subsequent utilisation or storage of the purified CO₂ gas).

Advancing mCDR understanding and implementation potential

While the scientific concepts behind these mCDR approaches are generally well understood, the costs, impacts and trade-offs associated with conducting mCDR at commercially and climatically relevant scales are far less certain. Our ability to monitor the net extent of atmospheric CO₂ removal in open-ocean settings is also a critical challenge, while the potential ecological and environmental risks or co-benefits of conducting and up-scaling mCDR approaches remain largely unknown. Resolving these uncertainties and advancing the potential for responsible mCDR implementation requires the development of robust monitoring mechanisms and governance frameworks, in addition to an improved understanding of public perception towards the different technologies and their potential social impacts.

The role of SEAO2-CDR

The Strategies for the Evaluation and Assessment Of Ocean-based Carbon Dioxide Removal (SEAO2-CDR) project is developing the tools, mechanisms and guidelines required to ensure that mCDR techniques can be developed in a responsible and transparent manner. Our research is enabling European citizens, policy makers and entrepreneurs to make well-informed decisions on how to advance mCDR approaches, and where appropriate, will ensure that these techniques can be deployed in an environmentally safe, socially acceptable, and economically viable manner in support of European and worldwide climate policies.

Funding

SEAO2-CDR is funded through Horizon Europe call CL5-2022-D1-01-01 on Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) approaches. It will run for four years from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2027. The consortia includes 14 European partners and is open to potential collaboration with companies and institutions interested in advancing our understanding of ocean-based CDR.