Plant Which Helps To Remove CO2 From Ocean To Begin Ops Here In 2026

Initial installation phases of world's largest such facility to start in Tuas by end-Sept

- Chin Hui Shan

The world's largest facility to boost the ocean's ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) is set to begin operations in Singapore in the first quarter of 2026, with initial phases of installation to start by end-September.

The Equatic-1 demonstration plant in Tuas is a collaboration between national water agency PUB and American start-up Equatic, which developed the ocean-based carbon removal technology.

In essence, the technology works by changing the chemistry of seawater it takes in, by removing dissolved CO2 for long-term storage.

When that same volume of seawater is discharged back into the ocean after being processed to preserve the ocean's chemistry, more CO2 from the atmosphere is able to dissolve in it.

If replicated on a large scale, this would, in theory, enable the ocean to soak up more of the planet-warming gas driving climate change.

However, scientists have warned that such manipulation could have impacts on marine life and the ocean environment.

The ocean covers 70 per cent of the earth, and is already considered a natural store of CO2, absorbing around 30 per cent of CO2 emissions from human activity.

The marine carbon dioxide removal technology, which aims to give the ocean's natural ability to fight climate change a boost, is attracting investor interest.

On Aug 12, the Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H), an investment vehicle by Temasek Trust, announced that it was co-leading a US$11.6 million (S$14.9 million) Series A fund raising for Equatic with Kibo Invest.

The latter is a Singapore-based private investment office with a focus on climate technology. Temasek Trust is the philanthropic arm of Singapore's investment company Temasek.