Solid Carbon receiving $24M to advance ocean-based carbon dioxide removal

The University of Victoria (UVic) welcomes today’s announcement of $24-million over six years through the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) to advance the Solid Carbon research project—one of the most promising ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) initiatives of the modern era to combat the climate crisis. 

The Solid Carbon: The Ocean’s Rock-solid Sociotechnical Climate Solution was among six initiatives awarded funding under the NFRF’s Transformation stream, which supports large-scale Canadian-led interdisciplinary research with the potential to realize real and lasting change for major challenges. 

Kate Moran is the project’s principal investigator and president and chief executive officer of Ocean Networks Canada, a UVic initiative. Moran says “as a pivotal driver of scientific innovation, Solid Carbon has the potential to leverage the world’s largest reservoir for carbon dioxide sequestration, ocean basalt, to combat the climate crisis and lay the foundation for a Canadian-led sustainable solution.”  

Ocean basalt has a unique capacity to address current increasing emission levels by permanently and safely storing carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the sub-seafloor as rock. Basalt is found all over the world’s ocean floor and reacts with CO₂ to mineralize, over short periods of time.  

An area of sea-floor basalt 200 kilometres off the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, has been extensively studied by the Solid Carbon team through previous eight years feasibility studies, laboratory experiments and modelling most recently funded by the UVic hosted and led Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions.  

“Solid Carbon will utilize ONC’s world-leading subsea cabled infrastructure off the coast of Vancouver Island as part of this research experiment, enabling 24/7 real-time monitoring that will be publicly accessible through the Internet,” says Moran. “The ongoing development of CDR technology has the potential to transform Canadian industry as we transition away from fossil fuels towards building a diverse, equitable blue economy and climate industry.” 

Next steps under the NFRF-funded project include ongoing research, public engagement, including consultation with coastal and Indigenous communities, and a small-scale demonstration project.  

“The University of Victoria is committed to addressing the climate emergency. The award from the New Frontiers in Research Fund is a major milestone and affirms that UVic researchers are helping to create local and global solutions to the greatest threat to humanity,” says Lisa Kalynchuk, UVic vice-president, Research and Innovation.  

“Much more needs to be done so we are very grateful for this new investment. This support gets us one step closer to developing the innovative technologies we need to reduce the rapid accumulation of carbon in our atmosphere and to reach a net zero future.” 

Solid Carbon brings together expertise from the social sciences, geosciences, ocean sciences, and engineering fields.  The team comprises prominent experts on the global stage from organizations with demonstrated national and international recognition, including many industry partners.   

Visit ONC's Frontier's project page for quotes from Solid Carbon co-principal investigators: UVic Professor Curran Crawford, who is leading systems engineering research; UVic Associate Prof. Felix Pretis, who leads the economic assessment; Prof. David Goldberg from Columbia University, who brings more than 20 years of experience in CO₂ mineralization; University of British Columbia Prof. Terre Satterfield, who leads the regulatory, societal and Indigenous community engagement central to this research project. 

A site being considered for the Solid Carbon demonstration is within the Tang.ɢwan – ḥačxwiqak – Tsig̱is Marine Protected Area (TḥT MPA) using existing technology that was installed by the international science community to study ocean basalt. ONC works closely to follow regulatory processes when conducting scientific activities within the TḥT. Fisheries and Oceans Canada collaboratively manage the MPA with First Nations partners. 

Global energy-related CO₂ emissions reached a new record high of 37.4 billion tonnes (Gt) in 2023. Accessible ocean basalt regions have an estimated overall carbon removal potential upwards of tens of thousands of Gt of CO₂ using the Solid Carbon technology under development. 

For more information including Frequently Asked Questions, visit the ONC or Solid Carbon websites.  

Ocean Networks Canada operates world-leading observatories in the deep ocean and coastal waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic coasts of Canada as well as the Southern Ocean, collecting ocean data that accelerates scientific discovery and makes possible services and solutions for a resilient planet. ONC’s cabled observatories supply continuous power and Internet connectivity to scientific instruments, cameras, and 12,000-plus ocean sensors. ONC also operates mobile and land-based assets, including coastal radar. ONC is an initiative of the University of Victoria and is one of Canada’s Major Research Facilities.

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A media kit containing photos and illustrations is available here.