An ongoing pilot project in Nova Scotia that has recently delivered the world’s first verified Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE) tons, removing more than 1,700 tons of atmospheric CO2 by reducing ocean acidity, is getting attention.
Frontier, an advance market commitment group with an aim to buy an initial $1B of permanent carbon removal between 2022 and 2030 have signed a $31M deal with Halifax-based Planetary to remove 115,211 tons of CO2 between 2026 and 2030.
“Planetary’s measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and safety protocols make them the ideal team to responsibly deliver on a field-first OAE offtake of this scale,” said Frontier in a media release.
Planetary removes atmospheric CO2 and reduces local ocean acidity by the addition of dissolved alkaline minerals, such as calcium oxide (CaO) or magnesium oxide (MgO), into the coastal surface waters of Halifax Harbour, through the cooling water outfalls at the Nova Scotia Power Tufts Cove plant.
“This process boosts the ocean’s natural ability to drawdown carbon by converting dissolved CO2 into stable bicarbonate ions, which are durably stored in the ocean for over 10,000 years… Unlike biological approaches, OAE works through the ocean’s chemical buffering system, avoiding disruption to biological carbon cycling and food webs. Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), particularly through approaches like alkaline mineral addition, has the potential to remove several billion tons of CO2 with a credible path to under $100 per ton… emerging as one of the fastest and most affordable carbon removal solutions,” said Frontier.
“The process is working as intended. We’re delivering verified carbon removal credits” through the Isometric Registry, a platform where companies who are working to remove carbon dioxide to reduce the impact of climate change can earn carbon credits, said Jennifer Johnson, Planetary communications.
“We are confident in the fundamentals of efficacy and safety, and the process clearly enhances alkalinity. At the same time, there will always be additional research questions as we refine the details, and we see immense value in continuing to participate in the global R&D effort. But yes, the fundamentals are clear: the process works and it removes carbon. From here, it’s about continuing to scale OAE responsibly and answering the next generation of research questions. Science is always evolving. As we collect data and collaborate with our partners and communities, we refine our methods from sampling and instrumentation to modeling in order to continue to reduce uncertainty,” said Johnson.
Planetary has been engaging with the fishing industry during the pilot project and have made a presentation to the Fishermen and Scientists Research Society (FSRS), said Johnson. “Additionally, as a result of feedback from the fishing industry, we have introduced lobster larvae ecotoxicology studies to our work in Nova Scotia.”
During the pilot project Planetary has been working with several universities, including Dalhousie who “remains an absolutely critical independent research partner,” as well as technology developers, sensor manufacturers, regulatory bodies, local and Indigenous communities, not to mention the carbon removal ecosystem which includes nonprofits, registries, buyers and other suppliers, Johnson added. “Reducing ocean acidity is an important component of the broader goal of carbon removal. That said, in order to meaningfully affect atmospheric CO2 and climate, OAE must scale globally and at high volume. Among carbon removal options, OAE offers some of the largest scale and lowest cost pathways,” said Johnson.
“Building on the success of our Tufts Cove pilot, Planetary will begin the next phase of operations with upgrades starting in 2026. These upgrades unlock larger-scale delivery of verified carbon removal, enabling us to continue to fulfill our commitments to buyers like British Airways, Stripe, Google and others. The 2026 phase marks our transition from pilot-scale demonstrations into consistent commercial deliveries,” said Johnson.
Further information about Planetary and the Halifax project can be found online at www.planetarytech.com/projects/nova-scotia
