Microsoft has signed the largest to date marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) deal with Ebb Carbon, commissioning the removal of 350,000 tonnes of CO2 over the following 10 years.
This purchase stands out as one of the biggest removal investments on the market so far, set to catalyze the development of the marine CDR sector.
Ebb Carbon, an ocean-based CO2 removal company established in 2020, is gaining traction as a leading marine CDR provider. This eye-catching deal with Microsoft further cements the company’s front-runner position in the industry.
In their successful Series A funding round, Ebb Carbon managed to secure $22 million and is currently operating a pilot facility in collaboration with the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Washington.
The company’s potential has also been recognized by XPRIZE, who shortlisted Ebb Carbon as a finalist, as well as by the DOE’s carbon removal purchase prize, where Ebb Carbon made it to the list of semifinalists.
Exploring the carbon removal potential of the ocean, Ebb Carbon is using an electrochemical ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) method to draw down carbon from the atmosphere into the ocean water, locking it there for thousands of years.
This process not only helps with the issue of atmospheric carbon emissions, but it also restores the PH balance of the ocean water by combating acidification caused by high carbon levels and improving the environment for marine ecosystems.
Relevant: New Research Highlights The Key Role Of Tiny Marine Animals For Ocean-Based CO2 Removal
Using this ocean-based decarbonization technology, the agreement with Microsoft will see Ebb Carbon deliver an initial 1,333 tons of removals, with the option for a further purchase of another 350,000 tonnes to be delivered over a 10-year period.
To guarantee the effectiveness of its work, Ebb Carbon utilizes the pioneering Isometric Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) protocol to measure, report, and verify (MRV) the carbon dioxide amounts removed with its technology. This will guarantee that the removal delivered by Ebb Carbon meets the high-quality market standards laid out by the rigorous, science-based registry.
Read more: Isometric Issued Its First Protocol For Carbon Removal Via Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement
