Climate Insider Brief:
- Ebb Carbon has partnered with Microsoft to remove up to 350,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next 10 years using Electrochemical Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), with an initial delivery of 1,333 tonnes.
- Ebb Carbon will utilize Isometric’s OAE protocol to ensure scientific rigor and transparency in carbon removal verification, marking the first such protocol from a carbon registry.
- Ebb’s electrochemical OAE process mimics natural ocean alkalization, allowing the ocean to absorb more CO2 while also helping reduce ocean acidification, contributing to gigaton-scale carbon removal.
Ebb Carbon has entered into an agreement with Microsoft to remove up to 350,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next decade using its Electrochemical Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) technology. This method enhances the ocean’s natural ability to absorb and permanently store atmospheric CO2. The agreement outlines an initial delivery of 1,333 tons of CO2 removal, with an option for Microsoft to purchase up to 350,000 tonnes over 10 years.
To measure, report, and verify the CO2 removed, Ebb Carbon will use Isometric’s newly announced OAE protocol, the first of its kind published by a carbon registry for this emerging removal pathway. This protocol ensures that the carbon credits delivered to Microsoft meet high standards of scientific rigor and transparency.
“Microsoft is setting an example with its commitment to become carbon negative by 2030,” said Ben Tarbell, CEO of Ebb Carbon. “This agreement highlights the potential of our technology to contribute to gigaton-scale carbon removal in the years ahead.”
Brian Marrs, Senior Director of Energy & Carbon Removal at Microsoft, emphasized the significance of ocean-based solutions: “Ebb’s technology leverages the natural processes of the ocean to durably remove and store large volumes of atmospheric carbon. We’re excited to explore the potential of these solutions at scale.”
Stacy Kauk, Chief Science Officer at Isometric, also commented on the collaboration: “The OAE protocol is promising because of the ocean’s vast surface area. However, it requires meticulous monitoring and verification to ensure that one credit equals one tonne of carbon dioxide removed.”
OAE takes advantage of a natural geologic process where alkaline minerals convert CO2 in seawater into bicarbonate and carbonate ions, storing carbon for over 10,000 years. Ebb Carbon’s electrochemical OAE process uses bipolar electrodialysis (BPED) technology to accelerate this process. The result is enhanced CO2 absorption from the atmosphere and a reduction in ocean acidification, which poses threats to marine life and coastal ecosystems.
Since its founding in 2020, Ebb Carbon has established itself as a leader in marine carbon dioxide removal. The company raised $22 million in Series A funding last year and is operating a pilot facility in collaboration with the DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Ebb is also a semi-finalist for the DOE’s carbon removal purchase prize and a finalist for the XPrize.
Souce: Businesswire
Featured Image: Credit: Ebb Carbon
