SeaCURE: A Bold Step in Ocean-Based Carbon Capture
A cutting-edge pilot project called SeaCURE has launched on England’s south coast, aiming to combat climate change by extracting carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from seawater. Unlike traditional carbon capture methods that focus on air or industrial emissions, SeaCURE taps into the ocean—where carbon concentrations are 150 times higher than in the atmosphere.
Funded by the UK government, this £3 million initiative is one of 15 pilot projects exploring new ways to cut greenhouse gases. Located near the Weymouth Sealife Centre, the facility uses a pipe extending into the English Channel to draw in seawater. The water is made more acidic to release dissolved CO₂, which is then captured using filters made from charred coconut husks. The treated seawater is neutralized and returned to the sea, ready to absorb more atmospheric carbon.
Though the current impact is small—removing up to 100 metric tonnes of CO₂ annually—the concept holds huge potential. If scaled up to process just 1% of the ocean’s surface water using renewable energy, SeaCURE could theoretically remove 14 billion tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Experts believe ocean-based carbon removal could become a key tool in achieving global net-zero goals. As Dr. Oliver Geden of the IPCC puts it: “Carbon removal is necessary. Capturing directly from seawater is one of the promising options.”
Blog by Dr. Muhammad Nasir Uddin
Founder and CEO, Global Climate Change Foundation (GCCF)
Committed to innovative climate solutions for a sustainable future.