CDR Verification Framework Documentation
Docs: Pathway
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (Electrochemical)
VCL
3
Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) adds alkalinity into the surface ocean to enhance the uptake and storage of atmospheric CO₂. Here, we specifically consider OAE that is facilitated by electrochemical separation, which removes acidity from seawater and returns a more basic solution to enhance ocean alkalinity. This pathway is VCL 3, meaning that current quantification capacity can establish net carbon removal occurred, but significant uncertainties remain.
Version history
Apr 10 2023
v1.1
Updated pathway to include a more explicit representation of marine carbonate precipitation, in alignment with the Enhanced weathering and Direct ocean removal pathways. Updated the VCL to exclude the durability components ('DIC residence time' and 'Marine carbonate durability') as the corresponding uncertainties are covered in the 'Marine carbonate precipitation' component. These changes did not change the overall VCL. Further details on this update are available in this blog post.
Sep 19 2022
v1.0
First release.
Acknowledgments
This framework has been shaped by input and feedback from external experts, including CDR companies, scientists, and other CDR ecosystem actors. Any remaining mistakes or mischaracterizations are the authors’ sole responsibility.
Scientific Expert
v1.0
David Ho (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa)
CDR Company
v1.0
Ebb
Ecosystem Actor
v1.0
Jamie Collins (Environmental Defense Fund)
Scientific Expert
v1.0
Matt Long (NCAR)
Scientific Expert
v1.0
Sophie Gill (University of Oxford)
Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (Electrochemical)
VCL
3
Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) adds alkalinity into the surface ocean to enhance the uptake and storage of atmospheric CO₂. Here, we specifically consider OAE that is facilitated by electrochemical separation, which removes acidity from seawater and returns a more basic solution to enhance ocean alkalinity. This pathway is VCL 3, meaning that current quantification capacity can establish net carbon removal occurred, but significant uncertainties remain.
Version history
Apr 10 2023
v1.1
Updated pathway to include a more explicit representation of marine carbonate precipitation, in alignment with the Enhanced weathering and Direct ocean removal pathways. Updated the VCL to exclude the durability components ('DIC residence time' and 'Marine carbonate durability') as the corresponding uncertainties are covered in the 'Marine carbonate precipitation' component. These changes did not change the overall VCL. Further details on this update are available in this blog post.
Sep 19 2022
v1.0
First release.
Acknowledgments
This framework has been shaped by input and feedback from external experts, including CDR companies, scientists, and other CDR ecosystem actors. Any remaining mistakes or mischaracterizations are the authors’ sole responsibility.
Scientific Expert
v1.0
David Ho (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa)
CDR Company
v1.0
Ebb
Ecosystem Actor
v1.0
Jamie Collins (Environmental Defense Fund)
Scientific Expert
v1.0
Matt Long (NCAR)
Scientific Expert
v1.0
Sophie Gill (University of Oxford)