- Startups raised $1M from Elon Musk to test magnesium oxide carbon capture
- Marine carbon credit sales surged to 340,000 units in 2023
- 50+ field trials conducted since 2020 with minimal regulation
- Coastal protests halted UK magnesium dumping project in 2023
Beneath Halifax Harbour's choppy waters, a climate experiment unfolds. Planetary Technologies pumps magnesium oxide slurry through industrial pipes, claiming this alkaline mineral could help oceans absorb 20% more atmospheric carbon dioxide. The startup represents a growing sector leveraging Earth's largest carbon sink - our oceans - to combat global warming.
Industry leaders face twin challenges: proving scalability and calming environmental concerns. While early trials show promise, projects like Vesta's North Carolina olivine deployment required 60% downsizing after marine biologists warned of seafloor ecosystem damage. We're balancing urgency with caution,admits Planetary's Chief Scientist Will Burt, whose team now monitors plankton health daily near discharge sites.
Three emerging strategies dominate marine carbon removal:
- Mineralization: Adding alkaline rocks to neutralize ocean acidity
- Seaweed Farming: Growing carbon-absorbing kelp forests
- Deep Storage: Sinking organic waste to seabed vaults
The Cornwall controversy highlights public skepticism. When Planetary proposed magnesium hydroxide releases in St. Ives Bay, locals protested with Hands Off Our Seasbanners. Marine researcher Sue Sayer notes, They underestimated our coastal ecosystem's complexity.Subsequent audits forced project delays, revealing gaps in baseline environmental data.
Carbon credit financing fuels rapid expansion despite scientific uncertainties. Startups sold $50M+ in marine credits last year, though experts question verification methods. American University's Sara Nawaz warns: We lack standards for measuring thousand-year carbon sequestration claims.
Regional case study: Nova Scotia's monitoring program uses dye tracers and sediment cores to track Planetary's impacts. Dalhousie University models suggest 1 ton of magnesium oxide could capture 2.3 tons of CO₂, but lead researcher Katja Fennel admits, Ocean currents complicate real-world measurements.
With UN climate goals requiring billion-ton annual removals by 2050, the race continues. As Stripe and Shopify purchase first-generation credits, critics urge stricter safeguards. This isn't pollution - it's planetary triage,argues Woods Hole's Adam Subhas, whose contested sodium hydroxide trial awaits federal approval. The ocean's role in our climate future remains as turbulent as its waters.
