SINGAPORE — A new project is gearing up to make waves in carbon reduction. The Equatic-1 plant, located in Tuas, Singapore, will be the world’s largest facility dedicated to enhancing the ocean’s ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). It’s set to start operations in early 2026, with initial setup starting by the end of September.
This facility is a collaboration between Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, and the American startup Equatic. Their technology aims to change seawater chemistry, removing CO2 for long-term storage. This could potentially allow the ocean to absorb even more CO2 from the atmosphere.
Currently, the ocean absorbs about 30% of CO2 emissions from human activity. If this technology is successful on a larger scale, it will help combat climate change. However, scientists including marine biogeochemist Patrick Martin from Nanyang Technological University caution that manipulating ocean chemistry could impact marine life. Changes in dissolved carbon and pH levels may affect various marine species.
The project recently received a significant boost with an $11.6 million funding round co-led by the Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H), part of Temasek Trust. This investment will help scale up Equatic’s technology for commercial use.
The Equatic-1 facility will initially remove one tonne of CO2 per day from the sea, with a goal to scale up to ten tonnes daily. This reduction is roughly equivalent to taking about 870 cars off the road.
Here’s how it works: an electrical current runs through the seawater, causing a chemical reaction that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen. The dissolved CO2 then combines with minerals in the seawater, forming stable compounds that can trap CO2 for thousands of years. This also generates hydrogen, a clean energy source, with the plant expected to produce around 300 kg of hydrogen daily.
PUB is keen on achieving net-zero emissions by 2045, five years ahead of Singapore’s national goal. Part of their strategy involves using innovative technologies while also investing in renewable energy sources like solar panels on reservoirs.
Initial trials have been promising. Two smaller pilot projects—one in PUB’s desalination plant and another at the Port of Los Angeles—successfully removed 100 kg of CO2 each day. Experts, however, stress that while the initial results are encouraging, scaling up this technology may pose risks to marine ecosystems.
According to Dr. Karenne Tun from the National Parks Board, human interventions could alter ocean chemistry, but the Equatic-1 project’s design seeks to minimize these impacts. The facility is built to return processed water to the ocean without significantly changing its composition. Regular monitoring will ensure that environmental standards are met.
This ambitious initiative reflects a broader trend in technology aimed at tackling climate change. With innovations like these, the hope is not just to mitigate the effects of global warming but also to create sustainable solutions for the future.
For more about environmental impact and marine engineering technologies, you can refer to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
