Equatic, a UCLA-founded carbon removal company, has launched an innovative technology that removes gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere by electrolyzing seawater, creating carbon-negative hydrogen in the process. This breakthrough decarbonization method aims for large-scale, rapid carbon removal and is set to revolutionize the fight against climate change. A pre-purchase agreement with Boeing has been announced, with Equatic aiming to remove 62,000 metric tons of CO2 and deliver 2,100 metric tons of carbon-negative hydrogen. The company’s low-cost solution allows for global scaling and adoption. Currently operating carbon removal pilots in Los Angeles and Singapore, Equatic plans to reach 100,000 metric tons of carbon removal per year by 2026.
A unique combination of CO2 removal and hydrogen generation
Equatic’s technology, developed at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering’s Institute for Carbon Management, is the first to combine CO2 removal and carbon-negative hydrogen generation. This multi-product climate solution addresses both legacy and future emissions. Lorenzo Corsini, Principal Advisor at Equatic, stated that their first-of-its-kind technology solves the challenges of gigaton-scale carbon dioxide removal and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. Lord John Browne, Chairman of Equatic’s Advisory Board, highlighted the unique nature of the technology, which absorbs carbon dioxide via the oceans and generates green hydrogen as a by-product.
Oceans as a key resource for CO2 removal and storage
Equatic’s technology harnesses the ocean’s natural carbon removal capabilities. Oceans are the world’s largest reservoir of CO2, absorbing one quarter of daily emissions. By accelerating and amplifying this natural cycle, Equatic’s technology achieves CO2 removal and durable storage. The entire removal and sequestration process takes place within an industrial carbon removal plant, enabling precise CO2 measurement.
Low costs and widespread adoption
With costs low enough for unprecedented scaling and adoption globally, Equatic has secured over $30M in initial funding from various sources, including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). This financial support has enabled Equatic to operate carbon removal pilots in Los Angeles and Singapore, with 100% of the CO2 removed pre-sold, including agreements with Stripe. The company aims to remove millions of metric tons of carbon for less than $100 per metric ton by 2028.
Carbon-negative hydrogen: the clean energy source of the future
Beyond carbon removal, Equatic plans to become a dominant producer of carbon-negative hydrogen, which will be sold as a clean energy source for industrial decarbonization, electricity production, Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), and trucking fuels. This hydrogen will also power Equatic’s technology. Sheila Remes, Boeing’s VP of Environmental Sustainability, emphasized the importance of SAF in reaching the commercial aviation industry’s net-zero by 2050 goal, expressing excitement over their partnership with Equatic on both green hydrogen feedstock and carbon dioxide removal.
Equatic’s technology: inputs and key features
The patented process used by Equatic involves four inputs: seawater, air, rock, and renewable electricity. Through the electrolysis of seawater and direct air capture, CO2 is trapped in solid minerals and dissolved substances in oceans, ensuring stability for over 100,000 years. Rock is used to neutralize processed seawater, preserving ocean chemistry. The technology’s key features include gigaton-scale carbon removal and storage, a multi-product solution combining CO2 removal and hydrogen production, and industry-leading Monitoring, Verification, and Reporting.
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