A pilot project in New York has tested the use of crushed olivine sand to absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide from the ocean. The first year of the trial indicates that adding this mineral to the seafloor did not cause adverse effects on local marine organisms. While the initial results are promising for scaled carbon removal, researchers emphasize the need for strict regulation. Long term monitoring is required to ensure that larger deployments do not disrupt marine ecosystems.
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Olivine weathering is an interesting path for carbon removal, but the scale needed to move the needle is massive. Good to see a trial actually checking for seafloor impact instead of just assuming it is safe.
The regulation part is the real hurdle here. We need a clear accounting framework for ocean based removal before this can enter any formal carbon market. Otherwise, it is just a science experiment without a financial path.
The article mentions no harm in the first year, but what about the energy cost of crushing and transporting the olivine? If the carbon cost of the logistics is too high, the net removal drops significantly.
Exactly. The lifecycle analysis is missing here. We need to know the tonnage of sand moved versus the tonnage of CO2 actually sequestered to see if this is viable.
