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Advanced shipping technology captures CO2 from ships, converting it into ocean-safe bicarbonate
The startup Calcarea, a spin-off of the prestigious California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and University of Southern California (USC), is at the forefront of sustainable innovation with the development of a revolutionary reactor. This reactor is capable of transforming carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by ship engines into a harmless salt, opening up new possibilities for significantly reducing CO2 emissions in the maritime sector. This breakthrough could be crucial for the shipping industry to achieve its ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
A sustainable solution for the future of maritime transport
The technology developed by Calcarea offers a promising solution to one of today's greatest environmental challenges: carbon capture and storage. The reactor converts CO2 emissions into bicarbonate salts, capable of safely storing carbon for up to 100 years. This process is inspired by a natural reaction that occurs in the oceans, but which Calcarea's technology can accelerate to occur in just minutes. instead of thousands of years.
According to Jess Adkins, a chemical oceanographer at Caltech and co-founder of Calcarea, “This is a process that the planet has been doing for billions of years. By accelerating it, we can create a safe and permanent way to store CO2.” This breakthrough could be a key factor in helping the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the shipping industry as a whole achieve their sustainability goals, setting a new standard for carbon capture in the industry.
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From carbon dioxide to natural salts: Calcarea's innovative process
The principle behind Calcarea’s technology is simple but powerful. Seawater naturally absorbs about a third of the CO2 released into the atmosphere, which leads to increased ocean acidity and the dissolution of calcium carbonate, a vital component of coral, shells and marine sediments. The oceans currently contain approximately 38 gigatons (38 billion tons) of bicarbonate.
Inside the Calcarea reactor, which is installed in the hull of ships, the exhaust gases are mixed with seawater and limestone, a rock rich in calcium carbonate. This mixture triggers a chemical reaction that converts CO2 into bicarbonate salts, resulting in saline water. What is truly remarkable is that this process, which would normally take more than 10 years under natural conditions, is completed in about one minute in the Calcarea reactors. The saline water produced can be returned to the ocean without any negative impact on marine life or the chemical balance of the waters.
The future impact of decarbonization on the shipping sector
In addition to its primary CO2 capture function, Calcarea is exploring the integration of a pre-filter into its systems. This additional component would remove other contaminants present in ship exhaust gases, such as particulates and unburned fuel residue, before the water is returned to the ocean. This would not only improve the efficiency of carbon capture, but also improve the quality of the water released.
To date, Calcarea has built two prototypes of its reactors: one located on the USC parking lot and another at the Port of Los Angeles. Last May, the company announced a collaboration with the research and development arm of Lomar, a renowned international shipping company. This partnership could lead to the installation of the first full-scale reactor onboard a ship, representing an important step toward decarbonizing the shipping industry.
Jess Adkins is confident that this technology will enable ships to compete with traditional underground CO2 storage solutions. He says that “vessels designed specifically to collect CO2 and limestone in a port, and then carry out the reaction at sea, will be dedicated machines to store carbon efficiently and safely in the ocean in the form of bicarbonate.”
Implications and opportunities for a more sustainable future
Large-scale implementation of Calcarea’s technology could radically transform the shipping industry, making it a global leader in sustainable practices. In addition to making a significant contribution to climate change mitigation, this innovation could set a new standard in carbon capture and storage, encouraging other industries to follow suit.
In a world where sustainability is increasingly a priority, technologies like Calcarea’s are essential to finding a balance between economic development and environmental preservation. Carbon capture in the shipping industry is not just a possibility – it is a necessary reality to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for our planet. With this technology, Calcarea is paving the way for cleaner and more responsible global shipping.
More information: calcarea.com
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