Inevitable Turning Seawater into a Carbon Removal Solution with Captura
Sep 30, 2025
In this discussion, Steve Oldham, CEO of Captura and former leader at Carbon Engineering, reveals cutting-edge Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) technology that efficiently extracts CO₂ from seawater. He explains the advantages of utilizing oceans over air, including a no-waste closed-loop process. Oldham delves into deployment strategies—from onshore plants to barge systems—and emphasizes using renewable energy. He also addresses policy gaps in carbon crediting and the significant potential for ocean deacidification while outlining Captura's impressive pilot progress in Hawaii.
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License Broadly And Be Pragmatic On End-Use
- License technology widely and accept multiple CO2 end-uses (sequestration or fuels) to accelerate deployment and scale the industry.
- Prioritize partnerships that drive commercialization even if some early uses are pragmatic rather than perfect.
EOR Helped Scale DAC, Even If Controversial
- Enhanced oil recovery played a pragmatic role in scaling DAC by giving buyers a use case and financing pathway.
- Captura expects its ocean base makes EOR less relevant to its business but acknowledges EOR's role in moving the industry forward.
Policy Excludes Indirect Ocean Removal Today
- Current U.S. 45Q tax credit language excludes indirect atmospheric removal like DOC because it specifies 'directly from the atmosphere.'
- Captura is lobbying to amend the wording to include indirect removal methods.