Environmental CO₂ Removal via Direct Water Capture (DWC)
Overview
Gigaton CO2’s Direct Water Capture (DWC) technology is designed to remove CO₂ directly from oceanic water, where it is over 150 times more concentrated than in air. Since the industrial revolution, the ocean has absorbed nearly a quarter of global CO₂ emissions, driving up acidity levels and threatening coral reefs, shellfish, and marine ecosystems.
Our system helps reverse this process by removing CO₂ from seawater and returning it slightly more alkaline, restoring the ocean’s ability to absorb more CO₂ from the atmosphere. The result is a gentle, nature compatible solution that reduces emissions and supports oceanic ecosystems.
In Summary
Gigaton CO2’s Direct Water Capture technology is not yet ready for deployment, but once fully developed it could offer a powerful, ocean-safe approach to carbon removal.
Our future targets for the system include:
- Energy use below 100 kWh per tonne of CO₂ captured
- Processing 10,000 to 15,000 m³ of water per tonne of CO2 captured
- Deployment at coastal, offshore, and desalination sites
- Operation using safe, naturally derived substances with no synthetic additives
These benchmarks reflect the long-term potential of DWC as a scalable tool for reducing atmospheric CO₂ and restoring ocean health.
How it Works
Seawater flows into a specially designed capture unit, where naturally sourced materials subtly adjust the pH. This chemical shift turns dissolved carbonate and bicarbonate ions into CO₂ gas which, is then extracted, leaving the water less acidic and ready to re-enter the ocean.
The process is powered by renewables like solar or wind and avoids electrochemistry and high-temperature regeneration, keeping energy use low and environmental impact minimal.
Designed to be low-impact and locally deployable, this technology could offer coastal communities a new way to earn a living from the sea, creating jobs, supporting local economies, and contributing to global climate efforts.
Development Status
Direct Water Capture is not part of our current deployment focus. While the technology offers strong long-term potential, there is currently limited market appetite and no clear route to deployment at scale. As a result, we have paused development to prioritise our Direct Solvent Capture system, which addresses urgent regulatory needs and near-term commercial opportunities.
DWC remains a valuable part of our technology portfolio, and we believe it could play a future role in ocean-based carbon removal and ecosystem recovery once the global conditions for deployment improve.
We welcome collaboration with partners interested in shaping that future.