About
Planetary Technologies develops and deploys ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) as a scalable, permanent solution to the dual crises of climate change and ocean acidification. The ocean already absorbs roughly a quarter of all human CO₂ emissions each year, but rising acidity is eroding that capacity and damaging coastal ecosystems. Planetary's patented process recovers high-purity alkaline minerals from industrial byproducts and introduces them into water flowing through existing coastal infrastructure—such as power plants and wastewater treatment facilities—restoring the water's natural buffering chemistry. This causes the seawater to convert more atmospheric CO₂ into stable bicarbonate ions, achieving permanent carbon dioxide removal (CDR) without requiring new physical infrastructure. Every project is conducted under rigorous scientific oversight in partnership with academic institutions and regulators, and outcomes are independently measured and submitted to third-party verifiers to produce high-quality, certified carbon removal credits. Planetary operates under a published Code of Conduct emphasizing safety, transparency, community engagement, and science-driven decision-making. Their Ocean Carbon Platform (OCP) integrates mineral sourcing, infrastructure deployment, scientific monitoring, and credit verification into a single end-to-end solution. The company targets governments, energy companies, municipalities, and corporate sustainability buyers seeking durable, measurable carbon offsets with co-benefits for marine biodiversity and coastal communities.
Key Features
- Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE): Introduces purified alkaline minerals into coastal outfalls to boost seawater buffering capacity, converting atmospheric CO₂ into stable bicarbonate for permanent carbon removal.
- Infrastructure Integration: Leverages existing coastal facilities such as power plants and wastewater treatment sites, eliminating the need for costly new infrastructure.
- Third-Party Verified Carbon Credits: Measures and submits project outcomes to independent verifiers, producing high-quality, certified carbon dioxide removal credits.
- Patented Mineral Recovery Process: Recovers natural alkaline minerals from industrial byproducts using a proprietary patented process, ensuring a sustainable and traceable mineral supply chain.
- Scientific & Regulatory Oversight: Partners with leading academic institutions and regulatory bodies to continuously monitor ocean chemistry, safety, and project performance.
Use Cases
- Corporate sustainability buyers purchasing high-quality, permanent carbon removal credits to meet net-zero or Science Based Targets commitments.
- Coastal power plants and wastewater treatment facilities partnering to host OAE deployment and generate revenue from carbon credit co-production.
- Government agencies and municipalities seeking co-benefits of reduced ocean acidification to protect local fisheries and coastal biodiversity.
- Climate research institutions collaborating on monitoring, measurement, and reporting protocols for ocean-based carbon dioxide removal.
- Impact investors and climate funds financing early-stage OAE projects to build the verified carbon credit pipeline.
Pros
- Permanent Carbon Removal: Converts CO₂ into stable bicarbonate ions that remain sequestered for geological timescales, unlike forestry or soil-based offsets that can reverse.
- Dual Environmental Benefit: Simultaneously removes CO₂ and reduces ocean acidification, improving marine ecosystem health alongside climate impact.
- Uses Existing Infrastructure: Deployment through existing coastal facilities keeps capital costs low and accelerates project timelines compared to greenfield approaches.
- Rigorous Transparency: Published Code of Conduct, third-party verification, and open scientific partnerships make impact claims credible and auditable.
Cons
- Early-Stage Scalability: OAE is still scaling from pilot projects; large-scale commercial availability and credit volumes are limited compared to more mature offset markets.
- Geographic Dependency: Projects require proximity to suitable coastal infrastructure, limiting deployment to specific locations rather than being universally available.
- Regulatory Complexity: Ocean-based interventions face evolving and jurisdiction-specific regulatory frameworks, which can slow project approvals and increase compliance costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE)?
OAE is a carbon dioxide removal method that increases the alkalinity of seawater by adding natural minerals, enabling the ocean to absorb more atmospheric CO₂ and convert it into stable bicarbonate—permanently storing the carbon while also reducing ocean acidity.
How does Planetary Technologies introduce minerals into the ocean?
Planetary introduces purified alkaline minerals into water flowing through existing coastal infrastructure, such as power plant cooling outfalls or wastewater treatment discharge points, rather than releasing them directly into open water.
How are carbon removal credits verified?
Planetary measures the chemical outcomes of each project using scientific monitoring protocols and submits results to independent third-party verifiers, who certify the quantity and permanence of CO₂ removed before credits are issued.
Is the process safe for marine ecosystems?
Safety is a core priority. Planetary collaborates with academic institutions and regulators, conducts extensive ocean monitoring, and follows its published Code of Conduct to ensure all operations meet or exceed environmental and safety standards in every jurisdiction.
Who can partner with Planetary Technologies?
Planetary works with corporations seeking high-quality carbon offsets, coastal infrastructure operators (power plants, wastewater facilities), governments, and research institutions interested in advancing ocean-based carbon removal at scale.
