Ocean Carbon Sink Enhancement System CarbonSink Deployed in the Pacific: Accelerating Seawater's Natural CO2 Absorption by 100x

Ocean Carbon Sink Enhancement System CarbonSink Deployed in the Pacific: Accelerating Seawater's Natural CO2 Absorption by 100x

California startup Running Tide today announced the completion of its first deployment of the CarbonSink ocean carbon sink enhancement system in the North Pacific. The system promotes phytoplankton photosynthesis by adding trace iron to seawater while simultaneously adding ground olivine minerals to accelerate seawater alkalization, working on two fronts to increase seawater's atmospheric CO2 absorption rate by approximately 100 times.

Running Tide CEO Bill Rash said: "The ocean is the planet's largest carbon sink, but the natural absorption rate is too slow. What CarbonSink does is accelerate a natural process that already exists, not introduce entirely new chemistry."

The initial deployment covers 1,000 square kilometers of ocean, with an estimated annual carbon removal of 50,000 tons of CO2. Carbon removal volumes are independently verified through satellite monitoring of phytoplankton density and seawater pH changes, and have received Verra carbon credit certification.

The cost per ton of carbon removal is approximately $150, with Running Tide targeting a reduction to below $50 by 2033. Microsoft and Stripe have signed long-term carbon removal purchase agreements with Running Tide.