Innovation March-April 2023

F E A T U R E

Shown magnified 350 times, solid carbonate minerals form small bumps on the larger chunks of basaltic minerals. P hoto : T he R eactive T ransport G roup at the U niversity of C algary

The map shows the key basalt deposits in oceans around the world that may be potential sites for Solid Carbon. G raphic : H eather N orton

STORING CARBON IS ONLY ONE SOLUTION

Crawford noted the ocean itself poses major engineering challenges, including the obvious constantly splashing salt water. Aside from durability and marinization, there are other difficulties to operating at sea, for example, how to connect to power when the air turbine isn’t generating enough energy. Crawford predicted eventually being able to sequester one megatonne per well, per year. Still, gigatonne-levels of removal will be needed by 2040. “A megatonne a year sounds like a lot but it isn’t, and that’s why we’re trying to look at this as a potentially globally scalable system,” he said.

did something thought to be impossible at the time. They extracted 400 metres of sediment core from the Arctic Sea floor. The research gave a glimpse into the history of the Earth’s climate, demonstrating that the perennial sea ice has been a part of the climate system for at least 15 million years. However, the ice has been steadily in decline over the past few decades. “For me that was the biggest wake-up call,” she said. “I’m now seeing the data for real that we are impacting a climate system that’s been on our planet for 15 million years and that’s not good.” That expedition inspired Moran to dedicate her career to seeking solutions. She said she felt it was critically important to monitor the ocean and how it’s changing. The effects of climate change are evident in the water, she said, citing acidification and extreme warming events, such as the Pacific She said a number of retired engineers have contacted Solid Carbon to help because they feel the need to contribute to solutions. “There’s a realization in the engineering community because Ocean "blob" that was discovered in 2013 and persisted into 2016.

The market is responding to the need, as an increasing number of companies are working on direct-air capture technology, and they’re all moving quickly to find new and enterprising ways to do it. However, drawing down carbon from the air is not a magic bullet. The world needs to move completely away from oil and gas, converting to electric, said Crawford. Moran agreed: “We have to stop extracting oil and gas. It’s nonsensical.” She’s seen evidence of climate change up close. In 2004, she was part of an international team of researchers that

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