Singapore is planning to expand a pilot project that uses electricity to extract carbon dioxide (CO2) from seawater. Led by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and using technology developed by U.S. firm Equatic, the project currently extracts 100 kilograms of CO2 per day. PUB intends to secure funding by the end of the year to construct a demonstration plant with a daily capacity of 10 tons and is exploring further expansion.
The project is part of Singapore’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has emphasized that removing CO2 from the atmosphere is as important as reducing emissions to mitigate temperature increases.
Equatic founder Gaurav Sant highlighted the commercial potential of the project, as it can yield both carbon credits and hydrogen, which can be used as fuel or for other applications. Additionally, the project could profit by selling calcium carbonate to the local building industry.
While such ocean carbon dioxide removal (OCDR) ventures show promise, experts warn about potential ecological impacts and advocate for further research. Some scientists emphasize the importance of nature-based solutions like reforestation and wetland restoration, which are often more cost-effective and carry lower risks.
Despite these concerns, there is a growing consensus on the need for substantial funding and research in OCDR technologies due to the urgent requirement to remove billions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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