SeaO2: Direct Ocean Capture technology

SeaO2 is pioneering a transformative solution to address the critical challenge of Negative Emissions, needed for achieving Net Zero by 2050, a goal  to prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5ºC over pre-industrial levels. As the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) published on their 2018 report, despite the aggressive pathways outlined for reducing emissions and decarbonizing industries, a substantial residual emission of at least 10 Gigatons remains (i.e., from the hard-to-abate sectors), a significant fraction of the current 40-50 Gigatons of global emissions. Reaching Net-Zero is impossible, unless in addition to decarbonisation, CO2 is also removed from the atmosphere, also often called “Negative Emissions”.

At SeaO2, we remove the excess atmospheric CO2, to enable Net-Zero. Our approach harnesses the vast potential of the world's oceans, which cover 70% of the Earth's surface and already absorb a third of all emissions. This marine environment offers a unique advantage, as carbon is 150 times more concentrated in seawater than in the atmosphere, making CO2 extraction both more efficient and cost-effective compared to e.g., Direct Air Capture. 

SeaO2's solution, Direct Ocean Capture, relies solely on renewable electricity and seawater to extract CO2 from the surface of seawater and consequently from the atmosphere in a scalable and cost-effective way. The process uses electrochemistry and vacuum to shift the carbonate equilibrium of the existing Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in water to enable CO2 extraction in gas form. The captured CO2 can then be stored away (e.g., underground) or utilised (as feedstock, directly or after conversion to valuable products).

Primarily, SeaO2’s activity impacts everyone’s lives, as we directly address the problem of climate change at the root, emissions. No other approach that is not a Negative Emission solution can aspire to really reverse the impacts of emissions that have already been put out to atmosphere and “clean” the atmosphere. Our solution benefits individuals and communities globally who are disproportionately impacted by the adverse effects of climate change. These populations often include marginalized and vulnerable groups, including those in low-lying coastal areas, small island nations, and regions prone to extreme weather events. These communities are currently underserved in terms of access to effective climate mitigation strategies and technologies.

SeaO2’s solution has several Carbon and non-Carbon Benefits that affect the communities at the frontline of our activities:

• Climate Change Mitigation: SeaO2's technology offers a direct and effective means of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, thereby mitigating the impacts of climate change. By removing CO2 at gigaton-scale, we contribute to stabilizing global temperatures, preserving ecosystems, and safeguarding livelihoods.

• Ecosystem De-acidification: Since our process involves discharging CO2-depleted water with a slightly higher pH, our project can help mitigate ocean acidification, benefiting local marine ecosystems and livelihoods.

• Enhanced Ocean Monitoring: Given our requirements for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV), our activity can increase ocean observation in areas with limited oversight, fostering better understanding and protection of marine environments.

• Blue Economy & Jobs: The project offers economic opportunities and job creation in the blue economy.

By serving as a catalyst for positive change, SeaO2's solution not only addresses the urgent need for climate action but also empowers communities to build resilient and sustainable futures.

Our leadership team at SeaO2 embodies a diverse set of skills, expertise, and experiences that uniquely positions us to deliver our solution effectively to the communities we serve. Here's a closer look at our cofounders:

• Ruben Brands: With a background in business administration and law, Ruben has a track record of driving innovation and entrepreneurship across various sectors. His experience spans major corporations, startups, and Venture Builders, providing him with valuable insights into business strategy, market dynamics, and organizational development.

• Dr. Rose Sharifian: As a chemical engineering expert with a specialization in membrane-based electrochemical processes, Rose brings invaluable technical knowledge and research experience to our team. Her pioneering work in oceanic carbon capture, which earned her a Ph.D. at TU Delft, serves as the foundation for our solution's technological development.

• Dr. David A. Vermaas: With expertise in electrochemical flow cells and membrane science, David's role as an Associate Professor at TU Delft adds academic rigor and scientific rigor to our team. His research background and contributions to technology development further enhance our solution's credibility and effectiveness.

In addition to our leadership team, the majority of our team members are either Dutch or have lived in the Netherlands for over a decade, allowing us to deeply understand and appreciate local perspectives and priorities, since we will be deploying first in our home country. Living close to the water is a shared experience for many in the Netherlands, providing us with a firsthand understanding of the importance of preserving and protecting our marine environments.

Furthermore, our team maintains close links to renowned research centers such as TU Delft and Wetsus Research Center, which have established credibility in technology development and environmental studies. These partnerships enable us to leverage cutting-edge research, access valuable resources, and collaborate with experts in the field, strengthening our solution's scientific foundation and real-world impact.

Our current prototype situated on the Dutch coastline operates at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5, demonstrating a 1 tCO2/yr capacity. Notably, last May 2023 we successfully removed our first tank of 5kg of CO2 and mineralized it into concrete with our partner Paebbl, a testament to the viability of our approach. As this has started in a PhD project, we also have multiple scientific articles published on the experimental data and feasibility of the technology.

We are currently designing our pilot plant with 250 tCO2/yr capacity, which will start operations towards the end of this year, and which will take our technology to TRL 6. 

We are applying to Solve because we believe that the MIT network can provide invaluable support in overcoming various barriers we face in advancing our solution. Specifically, we hope to leverage Solve's platform to address the following challenges:

1. Access to Investors and Talent: Solve's network can help us connect with investors and talent who can contribute to the development of our solution. By building a robust board of advisors, we can tap into diverse expertise and insights to strengthen our strategy and execution.

2. External Communications and Market Influence: Solve's platform offers an opportunity to amplify our message and raise awareness about the importance of carbon removal and specifically emphasize the important role of the oceans. Through strategic communications and partnerships, we aim to influence the public discourse on climate change and mobilize corporates and governments to support carbon removal initiatives.

3. Access to Best-in-Class Technology and Data Monitoring: Solve provides access to a network of technology experts, enabling us to enhance our solution's technical capabilities and data monitoring effectiveness.

Moreover, we are particularly interested in the Fondation Prince Albert II of Monaco (FPA2M) Ocean Innovation Prize, as it aligns with our focus on advancing solutions for coasts, oceans, and the blue economy. We recognize the urgent need to accelerate innovation in marine carbon removal, and support from FPA2M could provide critical resources and recognition to propel our efforts forward.

In summary, we believe that Solve's platform and the support of partners like FPA2M can help us overcome financial, technical, and market barriers, allowing us to accelerate the development and adoption of our solution for ocean carbon removal.

SeaO2 differentiates itself from competitors in the broader Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) space, which includes various methods for producing high-quality carbon credits that achieve Negative Emissions - e.g., Direct Air Capture, BioEnergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), Enhanced Rock Weathering, Biochar and other marine Carbon Removal approaches such as Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement or seaweed cultivation and sinking.

 What sets our technology apart is that it leverages the ocean’s vast potential in a cost-effective and scalable way and with minimal environmental impact. Some highlights:

• Compact plug-and-play design allows for retrofitting into existing marine infrastructure (even offshore) and minimal land use. 

• No need for feedstock or by-products generation, simplifying operations. 

• Fully electrical and heat-free, can operate intermittently,  leveraging the cleanest and most cost-effective energy sources. 

• Introduces no chemicals and minimally affects alkalinity, mitigating potential environmental uncertainties, which together with the measurability of the stream of CO2 can make Direct Ocean Capture pave the path to scientifically-endorsed robust MRV

Our theory of change centers around addressing the pressing challenge of removing 10 gigatons of CO2 annually by 2050, as outlined by the IPCC. Given the urgent need for carbon removal, innovators have begun exploring various methods to achieve negative emissions. Our approach is to embrace a diversified portfolio of solutions to determine the most scalable options for reaching this ambitious goal.

In this context, we see the ocean as a critical resource with immense potential for carbon removal. With its vast expanse and existing capacity to absorb CO2, leveraging ocean-based solutions is paramount. Among these solutions, Direct Ocean Capture stands out as a promising avenue for rapid scalability.

Direct Ocean Capture offers several advantages that align with our theory of change. Firstly, it leverages existing marine infrastructure, minimizing the need for extensive new construction and increasing any pressure on land space. Secondly, it operates using only renewable electricity, avoiding the use of additional resources such as heat or pressure. Moreover, it requires no feedstock and has no by-products, simplifying operations and reducing costs, presenting a differentiation from other pathways that require mining of minerals or that produce a by-product in great quantities. Additionally, we anticipate minimal environmental impacts from discharging CO2-depleted seawater, since our process does not alter significantly the alkalinity and has no complex biological mechanisms but rather well-understood ocean chemistry

By focusing on Direct Ocean Capture as a key component of our strategy, we aim to contribute to the broader goal of achieving significant CO2 removal. By harnessing the power of the ocean in a sustainable and efficient manner, we believe we can make meaningful strides towards mitigating climate change and securing a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Our impact goals for SeaO2 are centered around achieving a significant reduction in the cost of carbon removal, thereby enabling widespread adoption and meaningful contributions to climate change mitigation efforts at gigaton scale. Specifically, our goal is to achieve a cost of $200 per ton of CO2 removed at the megaton scale by 2030.

To measure our progress towards this goal, we are focusing on several key indicators:

1. Cost per ton of CO2 removed: Our primary indicator is the cost efficiency of our technology, measured in dollars per ton of CO2 removed. We track this metric closely and aim to steadily decrease it over time through technological advancements and process optimizations.

2. Energy consumption: We are monitoring the energy consumption of our Direct Ocean Capture process, aiming to half the kWh per ton of CO2 removed by 2030. This indicator reflects our commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency.

3. Current density: Increasing the current density to 100-200 mA/cm2 is another key design change aimed at improving the efficiency of our technology.

4. Membrane durability: Extending the durability of our membranes from 4 to 7 years is essential for reducing operational costs and minimizing resource consumption. We are actively working on enhancing membrane durability through material innovations and design improvements.

5. Degassing efficiency: Improving degassing efficiency is crucial for maximizing CO2 capture rates and overall process performance. By optimizing our degassing methods, we can enhance the effectiveness of our technology and achieve higher removal efficiencies.

By tracking these indicators and continuously innovating our technology, we are confident in our ability to achieve our impact goals and contribute to the global efforts to combat climate change.

SeaO2's solution, Direct Ocean Capture, relies solely on renewable electricity and seawater to extract CO2 from the surface of seawater and consequently from the atmosphere, basically leveraging the ocean as an absorbent.

The process uses electrochemistry to leverage the carbonate equilibrium of seawater and enable CO2 extraction. SeaO2 produces an acid and a base stream inside of the Bipolar Membrane electrochemical stack. The acid stream is used to create a pH-swing in the degasser that will shift the bicarbonate and carbonate ions present in water into aqueous CO2, which we then remove using vacuum. 

Following the degassing procedure, the de-carbonized mildly acidic stream is combined with the base stream produced in the electrochemical stack for pH-restoration before being discharged back to the surface mixed layer of the ocean (25 m–100 m deep). The de-carbonized water naturally re-equilibrates with the atmosphere over time, effectively reabsorbing an equivalent amount of CO2 to what was removed from it during the CO2 stripping process. 

In parallel, the extracted CO₂ is compressed and transported for permanent storage or utilization with third-party providers. For permanent storage, the extracted gaseous CO₂ is sequestered in underground geological formations or mineralized into concrete. Alternatively, the CO2 can be utilized into products such as alternative fuels like green methanol, which are key for decarbonization of certain sectors. 

At SeaO2, we work closely with Dutch knowledge institutes including TU Delft (https://www.tudelft.nl/) and Wetsus (https://www.wetsus.nl/) and have generated scientific articles on our technology. A few are listed below: 

[1] R. Sharifian et a.l, Electrochemical oceanic carbon capture through in-situ carbonate mineralization using bipolar membrane, Chem. Engineering Journal 438, 135326 (2022)

[2] R. Sharifian et al., Electrochemical carbon dioxide capture to close the carbon cycle, Energy Environ. Sci. 14, 781-814 (2021).

[3] R. Sharifian et al., Intrinsic bipolar membrane characteristics dominate the effects of flow orientation and external pH-profile on the membrane voltage, Journal of Membrane Science 638, 119686 (2021).

[4] Diederichsen, K.M., Sharifian, R., et al. Electrochemical methods for carbon dioxide separations. Nat Rev Methods Primers 2, 68 (2022).

[5] R. Sharifian, H.C. van der Wal, R.M. Wagterveld, D.A. Vermaas, Fouling management in oceanic carbon capture via in-situ electrochemical bipolar membrane electrodialysis, Chemical Engineering Journal, Volume 458, (2023).

Link to Rose Sharifian’s PhD Thesis on Electrochemical Oceanic Carbon Capture using Bipolar Membrane Electrodialysis: https://pure.tudelft.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/134873106/Online_version_TUD_Dissertation_R.sharifian_24102022.pdf 

We have 11 people in the team including the three co-founders with a diversity of backgrounds spanning chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering to business and legal. We have 4 team members in a full-time capacity, 6 team members with part-time dedication / freelance, and one advisor

At SeaO2 we have three co-founders (Ruben Brands, Rose Sharifian and David Vermaas) who have been working together since the end of 2021, around 2.5 years. In 2021, as Dr. Sharifian’s phd took shape and with Dr Vermaas’ advisory, they got together with Ruben Brands and decided to take the technology from the lab to the market

At SeaO2, we are committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across all aspects of our work. Our approach to incorporating DEI into our organization is multifaceted and reflects our core values of embracing diversity and leveraging it as a source of strength and innovation.

One aspect of our commitment to DEI is reflected in the composition of our leadership team. Among our three co-founders, our Chief Technology Officer, Rose Sharifian, is a woman and a talented immigrant to The Netherlands. This influence has made diversity a cornerstone of our hiring practices and team culture. Despite our small size, we prioritize building a team that reflects a range of nationalities, ethnic origins, and genders. We recognize that diversity of background and opinions is essential for tackling the complex challenges inherent in carbon removal, particularly as we pioneer new solutions in this field, so we are convinced that these principles not only align with our values but also drive our success as an organization. We are committed to continuously improving our DEI practices, whether through targeted recruitment efforts, ongoing training and education, or fostering a culture of open dialogue and collaboration.

We have two potential markets: Carbon Removal Credit Market and Green CO₂ Utilization, with different types of customers each

Carbon Removal (CDR) Market: The carbon Removal market is structured into several segments

• Voluntary Carbon Market: Market to purchase high-quality carbon credits to compensate for corporates’ and governments’ irreducible emissions. This is currently the most active market, which specific initiatives geared towards supporting early stage innovations, such as Frontier Climate $1Bn Advanced Market Commitment from companies such as Stripe, McKinsey, Meta, Shopify and Alphabet, as well as multiple-year contracts by Microsoft. We have already secured some deals with Klarna and WRLD Foundation (via the Milkywire Climate Transformation Fund) and Ledgy.

• Government Direct Procurement: Some governments are actively committing to become customers. For example, the US has kicked-off a $35Mn direct procurement program as an initial phase of government procurement

• Compliance Markets: Compliance markets entail enforcing the role of carbon removal as part of different carbon pricing mechanisms across different regions. Examples include California’s Low-carbon Fuel Standard with specific provisions for compensation using Direct Air Capture, and the European Union working groups working on integrating carbon removals into the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS). Compliance markets will be key to drive the full potential of the market leveraging private companies’ demand. 

CO2 Utilization Market: The extracted carbon dioxide does not need to be seen as a waste product but can be considered a valuable resource. Applications can be pivotal contributions in decarbonizing hard to abate industries. CO₂ can be used directly (for example: food, beverages, packaging, agriculture) or it can be converted into alternative fuels (e.g., green methanol), chemicals (e.g., ethylene, alcohols, formic acid, formate, syngas, urea) and other organic materials. In this case, our customers would be the companies purchasing green CO2 as a feedstock for their materials

SeaO2 operates on a revenue model primarily focused on two potential markets: the Carbon Removal Credit Market and the Green CO₂ Utilization market.

1. Carbon Removal Credit Market:

• In this market, SeaO2 sells high-quality carbon credits to offset corporate or governmental (irreducible) emissions. Quality means >10,000 years of permanence, clear-cut additionality, trustworthy measurability and verifiability. 

• While our technology is currently in its early stages and may command a premium compared to internal carbon prices, forward-thinking entities such as Klarna and the WRLD Foundation have already pre-purchased credits at $1800/ton, signalling demand. We anticipate driving down costs significantly, aiming for prices in the low hundreds $/ton as our technology matures. 

• The unit economics of this market involve the cost of capturing and removing one ton of CO2 from the atmosphere, along with associated operational expenses. The revenue is generated from selling carbon credits at a price determined by market demand, which is expected to consolidate over time around 100-200$/ton due to supply constraints and growing awareness of the need for negative emissions.

• A strategic piece of our revenue strategy will be to form long-term offtake agreements with corporates that want to lock a future price of carbon removal as our cost comes down. This would entail a schedule of tonnage deliveries at a determined price in time. A contract of this type will be key to signal demand pull and attract project financing.

2. Green CO₂ Utilization Market:

• SeaO2 also participates in the market for green CO₂ utilization, where the extracted carbon dioxide is considered a valuable resource for various industrial applications.

• Revenue in this market is generated by selling green CO₂ as a feedstock to companies engaged in industries such as alternative fuels, chemicals production, food and beverage, packaging, and agriculture.

• The unit economics in this market involve the cost of extracting and supplying one ton of green CO₂, along with any additional processing or transportation expenses. Revenue is derived from selling the green CO₂ at a price determined by market demand and the value it provides to end-users.

Overall, SeaO2's revenue model is designed to capitalize on the growing demand for carbon removal solutions and green CO₂ utilization, with unit economics influenced by factors such as technological advancements, market demand, and government subsidies.

In terms of financing, we have bootstrapped the company so far with grants (EIC Klimate KIC, NWO Faculty of Impact, Wetsus, Leeuwarden Innovation Fund, TU Delft Energy Voucher) and early customers (Klarna, Milkywire Climate Transformation Fund, WRLD Foundation, Ledgy). Our strategy moving forward involves raising capital from european as well as dutch grants, and venture capital financing for the first few deployments, and then evolve towards Infrastructure Project Financing once we have been able to de-risk the technology through advancing in Technology-Readiness Level and to de-risk the demand through securing offtake agreements.