Mitsubishi Electric and VTT advance ocean carbon capture technology toward pilot phase

splash247.com

by policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 points

Mitsubishi Electric and Finland's VTT Technical Research Centre have moved their direct ocean capture (DOC) technology from early research to pilot-scale validation. The process uses acidification to release dissolved CO2 from seawater, which can then be stored or used in industrial applications. The project, started in late 2024, aims to remove carbon from the ocean and boost its ability to absorb more atmospheric CO2. The partners say the technology could help tackle hard to eliminate emissions and support new carbon utilization value chains, though no timeline for the pilot phase has been announced yet.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

DOC is one of those approaches that sounds promising on paper but the energy cost of acidifying and then neutralizing seawater is usually the hidden problem. Curious if Mitsubishi has any numbers on that.

eco_tracker_99·3 months ago·1 pts

They say it can handle residual emissions but without pilot data it is just a concept. Still, moving from lab to pilot in under two years is faster than most CDR projects.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Worth noting that DOC competes with direct air capture for the same CO2 removal credits. The ocean has a bigger buffer capacity but the logistics of pumping seawater are not trivial.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

If this gets to scale, the carbon accounting will be tricky. You have to prove the removed CO2 stays out of the atmosphere long term, especially if some is used as feedstock rather than stored.

solar_winds_05·3 months ago·1 pts

Mitsubishi Electric has the industrial chops to build the hardware, VTT brings the science. That combo is better than most CDR startups. Still early though.