27: Harnessing the Ocean's Might: In-Depth with SeaO2 Founders on their Mission to Capture a Gigaton of CO2 by 2035

SustainNOW Podcast - Learn from entrepreneurs & scientists about climate solutions

In today's episode, I am speaking with Rose Sharifian and Ruben Brands. Rose is CTO and co-founder of CDR startup SeaO2. She is a chemical engineer and petroleum engineer by training, who is researched, for the last 5 years, the electrochemical oceanic carbon capture during her PhD at University of Delft, Netherlands.

My second interview partner is Ruben Brands, CEO and co-founder of Seo2. He previously founded startups and consulted for major corporations on lean startup initiatives. Three years ago, motivated by the urgency of climate change, he was researching technological solutions and met Rose.

Sea02 is a ocean-based carbon removal company with the mission to protect our planet from getting warmer and warmer, by reducing the CO₂ concentration in the ocean and indirectly in the air. They would like to capture 1 Gigaton of CO2 by 2035.

In this episode, you will learn about the different Ocean-based carbon removal methods (nature and tech based), the technology of Seo02, the challenges of scaling a company on water and why ocean-based is much more efficient than direct air capture.

The following description was created automatically by AI :)

Can we truly outsmart climate change by harnessing the ocean's might? Get ready to infiltrate the fascinating world of ocean-based carbon removal with our guests, Rose Scharrivian and Ruben Brands, the innovative minds behind SeaO2, a company on a mission to capture a gigaton of CO2 by 2035! Together, we'll shed light on the technology that drives their venture and the hurdles they encounter as they progress towards their ambitious goal.
What sets ocean-based carbon capture apart and how does it compare with direct air capture? That's what Rose and Ruben will be discussing in depth, as we explore the remarkable efficiency of ocean carbon capture. We'll delve into the role of the ocean as a carbon absorbent, the unique challenges of measuring and monitoring ocean capture, and the tantalizing possibility of achieving gigaton scale carbon removal. Furthermore, we'll probe into the environmental impact of this groundbreaking technology, weighing potential risks and discussing the careful balancing of CO2 levels.
Lastly, Rose and Ruben will take us on a journey through the Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) market, its stumbling blocks, and the innovative solutions that SeaO2 is introducing. You'll hear about their hands-on experience of working with the unforgiving ocean, the pressing need for funding, and the urgency of scaling up their operations. Learn about their pilot project in the Netherlands and their unwavering determination to battle climate change with creativity and cutting-edge technology. This is an episode you won't want to miss if you're curious about how tech can help us turn the tide in the fight against global warming.

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Chapters

1. 27: Harnessing the Ocean's Might: In-Depth with SeaO2 Founders on their Mission to Capture a Gigaton of CO2 by 2035 (00:00:00)

2. How did you meet and how did you get started on this idea? (00:02:40)

3. Can you explain what SeaO2 does? (00:04:00)

4. How do you capture and transfer the CO2? (00:05:47)

5. What is the status of your current prototype? (00:06:20)

6. How does that technology actually look like? (00:07:33)

7. What is the size of the device? (00:10:00)

8. How does the CO2 Liquefying work? (00:11:15)

9. What are other possibilities for use? (00:12:19)

10. What are the key differences in carbon capture technologies? (00:14:15)

11. How many devices do you need to remove 1 gigaton? (00:15:45)

12. What is the cost per tonnage of CO2? (00:17:00)

13. What are the downsides compared to other CO2 capture technologies? (00:17:40)

14. Why is it so difficult to measure the amount captured in the ocean compared to the land? (00:19:30)

15. Can you explain the oceanic carbon cycle? (00:21:08)

16. What are the pros and cons of other sea carbon technologies? (00:25:00)

17. Is there any negative impact on living organisms? (00:27:50)

18. How far are you in development? (00:30:50)

19. How are you financed? (00:33:27)

20. Does SeaO2 own the technology? (00:35:40)

21. What regulatory considerations do you need for SeaO2? (00:36:30)

22. What have you learned the most in your companies journey so far? (00:39:25)

23. What makes you confident that we will solve the climate crisis? (00:42:00)

24. How can people get in touch with you? (00:44:00)