EBB CARBON

XPRIZE TRACK
OCEAN

CDR PATHWAY(S)
Oceans - Ocean alkalinity enhancement
Oceans - Electrochemical CO2 separation from seawater and/or water splitting
Rocks - Ex-situ mineralization of mined rocks
Rocks - In-situ mineralization

PHYSICAL PRODUCTS
Other

FOUNDED
2021

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Ebb Carbon
San Carlos, CA
www.ebbcarbon.com

Ben Tarbell
[email protected]

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Ebb Carbon is pioneering a new carbon removal solution by enhancing the ocean’s natural ability to safely store CO2. This electrochemical ocean alkalinity enhancement method has the potential to be one of the largest scale and lowest cost approaches to removing excess CO2, while reducing ocean acidity.

CORE INNOVATION

Electrochemical OAE is among the most durable of all CDR methods, has among the greatest potential to scale, and is headed to be less than $100/tonne (NASEM 2021; NOAA 2023). Compared to other OAE methods, Ebb’s approach has many advantages: simplified distribution of a liquid product to the ocean, avoidance of mining and transportation of the alkalinity source as well as potentially harmful impurities present in mined alkalinity sources.

CO2 CAPTURE

The electrochemical ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) process uses low-carbon electricity and ion-selective membranes to separate the NaCl in seawater into dilute HCl and NaOH. The base stream is returned to the ocean to safely enhance ocean alkalinity, which in turn pulls atmospheric CO2 from the atmosphere and transforms it into bicarbonate and carbonate ions, accelerating the oceans’ natural carbon cycle.

CO2 SEQUESTRATION

The conversion of atmospheric CO2 to bicarbonate and carbonate ions accelerates the natural carbon cycle, specifically the long term cycling of carbon weathered from land and removed to the seafloor. Once in the ocean, bicarbonate is a stable form of carbon storage for 10,000+ years. Electrochemical OAE is expected to be among the most durable methods of carbon removal.

CO-BENEFITS OR PRODUCTS

Ocean alkalinity enhancement can help reduce the acidity of seawater locally. After alkalinization and equilibration by CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere ocean pH will be slightly higher. Locally OAE can restore ecosystems where ocean acidification and natural low pH events harm shellfish. Other local restorative effects may include the amelioration of the low pH of treated wastewater. Use cases for the acid product include enhanced weathering to sequester additional CO2, cement neutralization, red mud remediation and element extraction in mining.