CDR Verification Framework
This is an interactive tool for understanding Verification Confidence Levels (VCLs) for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) by mapping key uncertainties for different CDR pathways. Developed in collaboration between CarbonPlan and Frontier. Read the explainer article, the Frontier post, or methods for more detail.

Ocean Biomass Sinking (No Harvest)
v1.2
VCL
1-2


Component
Uncertainty
Macroalgae cultivation on drifting buoy
Leakage
Surface competition effects
Air-sea gas exchange
Outgassing
Materials
Energy
Solid phase deepwater storage
Dissolved phase deepwater storage
Ocean Biomass Sinking (No Harvest)
v1.2
VCL
1-2
Ocean biomass sinking uses macroalgae to remove CO₂ from surface ocean, which in turn enhances the ability of the surface ocean to drawdown atmospheric CO₂. The biomass is sunk into the deep ocean to achieve long-term carbon storage. Here, we specifically consider approaches that do not harvest the biomass before sinking it. This pathway is VCL 1-2, meaning that current quantification capacity may be able to establish net carbon removal occurred, but that very significant uncertainties remain. View pathway documentation.
Total Carbon RemovalCO₂e
=DrawdownCO₂e - EmissionsCO₂e
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Materials
Energy
Project activity
Buoy seeding and deployment
Macroalgae cultivation on drifting buoy
Buoy sinking
Solid phase deepwater storage
Dissolved phase deepwater storage
Outgassing
Surface competition effects
Air-sea gas exchange
Leakage
Leakage