Innovative SeaCURE Project Tackles Climate Change by Capturing Carbon from Seawater
23.04.25
A ground-breaking project, SeaCURE, has started on England’s south coast to combat climate change by removing carbon from seawater. Funded by the UK government, this pilot scheme explores innovative carbon capture methods. While reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial, capturing already-released gases is also important. SeaCURE tests the efficiency of extracting carbon from seawater, where it is more concentrated.
Located near the Weymouth Sealife Centre, SeaCURE uses a pipe system to draw seawater from the English Channel. The water is treated to become more acidic, releasing dissolved carbon as COâ‚‚ gas. This gas is then captured, concentrated using charred coconut husks, and stored. The treated seawater, now low in carbon, is neutralised and returned to the sea, ready to absorb more COâ‚‚.
Dr Paul Halloran, leading the project, highlights the benefits of using seawater, which contains significantly more carbon than air. However, the process requires substantial energy, making scalability a challenge. Currently, SeaCURE removes about 100 metric tonnes of COâ‚‚ annually, but the potential for large-scale impact exists.
SeaCURE’s submission to the UK government suggests the technology could remove 14 billion tonnes of COâ‚‚ annually if scaled to process 1% of the world’s surface seawater. This would require renewable energy sources, such as solar panels on floating installations.
The project also examines the impact of low-carbon water on marine life. Early research indicates potential effects, but mitigation strategies, like pre-dilution, are being explored.
With £3 million in funding, SeaCURE is one of 15 UK pilot projects aimed at developing carbon capture technologies. Energy Minister Kerry McCarthy emphasises the importance of such innovations in achieving net zero emissions, supporting skilled jobs, and boosting growth.
SeaCURE represents a promising step in the fight against climate change, offering a novel approach to carbon capture. As research continues, its potential to significantly reduce atmospheric COâ‚‚ and contribute to global climate goals remains a key focus.
For more information visit BBC News.
How is this helping Devon reach net-zero?
Action E11. Remain engaged with government funding opportunities to pilot carbon capture and storage technology on industrial facilities in Devon.
