Technology
Raising the Bar for Ocean-Based Carbon Removal
Approval of the MCFS methodology follows months of consultation and expert input, including contributions from Alcove Labs and Oceanid CCS. The methodology is now part of the Puro Standard, setting robust environmental safeguards and rules that all projects, including Gigablue’s, must follow.
The existence of an approved, third-party-reviewed methodology for MCFS changes the landscape.
“With the conclusion of this approval process, Gigablue’s work is now able to move forward toward certification under the most rigorous standards in the voluntary carbon market. We set out with a mission to deliver safe, scalable, and scientifically credible carbon removal from the ocean. Approval of the MCFS methodology is a critical step in building that credibility. Our next step is to undergo independent audit and verification, so that when we issue CORCs, buyers can trust that every tonne is verified, durable, and real,” said Sapir Markus-Alford, Co-Founder and CTO of Gigablue.
MCFS stages overview from engineered substrate processing to deep ocean storage. Source: Puro.earth MCFS methodology.
The MCFS Approach
At its core, the MCFS approach leverages the ocean’s ability to uptake more CO₂ from the atmosphere by fixing excess CO₂ into microalgae. This is followed by an efficient and controlled sinking mechanism, locking the carbon in the very deep ocean.
The methodology sets a minimum sequestration durability of 200 years, with many sites achieving far longer timescales depending on depth and circulation patterns. Gigablue’s approach is backed by in-situ measurements, baseline ecological data, and robust modeling to quantify both the carbon sequestration and assure environmental safety.
Safeguards for Environments & Communities
Gigablue built environmental and social safeguards into MCFS from its early days. The Puro.earth-certified methodology requires every MCFS project to perform thorough site-specific environmental impact assessments, including gathering baseline ecological data, and monitoring throughout every stage of deployment to mitigate environmental and social risks. That ensures this pathway isn’t just effective, but safe and even beneficial for marine ecosystems and communities.
“The ocean is by far the largest reservoir of carbon in the climate system, and methodologies like MCFS enable us to responsibly expand its capacity for long-term CO₂ sequestration,” said Marianne Tikkanen, Head of Standard at Puro.earth. “We also recognize the pioneering role of Gigablue in taking their early experience and learnings and helping to shape a methodology that others can now adopt. This is an important step toward scaling marine carbon removal, under the rigor of the Puro Standard.”
