S3E21: Direct Ocean Capture or Direct Air Capture?—w/ Steve Oldham, CEO of Captura

Reversing Climate Change

Direct air capture (DAC) is growing in popularity around the world, and it is an important tool for reducing CO2 in the atmosphere.

But 30% of all the carbon dioxide we’ve emitted to date is stored in the ocean.

So, what can we do to sequester CO2 from ocean water? Is the technology similar to that of direct air capture? How does the process work?

Steve Oldham is former CEO of DAC pioneer Carbon Engineering and current CEO of Captura, a startup working to capture carbon dioxide from our oceans at scale.

On this episode of Reversing Climate Change, Steve joins Ross and cohost Radhika Moolgavkar, Head of Supply and Methodology at Nori, to explain what he believes may make direct ocean capture cheaper and easier than DAC.

Steve discusses how the natural equilibrium between the ocean and the atmosphere provides an opportunity for carbon removal and describes how his team evaluates candidate sites with a focus on existing oil and gas infrastructure.

Listen in for Steve’s insight on the greatest challenges facing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and learn how Captura’s signature electrodialysis process captures CO2 while attempting to avoid disrupting the ocean.

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Resources

Captura

Carbon Engineering

IPCC

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

Inflation Reduction Act

45Q Tax Credit

California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard

Frontier’s Carbon Removal Initiative

Henry’s Law

Captura’s XPRIZE

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Energy Earthshots Initiative

CE’s Partnership with Occidental