Running Tide invites an independent review of its carbon removal technology

Independent review of carbon removal technology to increase ‘transparency and verifiability’

Running Tide, a Maine-based global ocean health company, is teaming up with Deloitte to conduct an independent review of its carbon removal technology – a step towards the generation of high-quality carbon removal credits.

The company is testing a system to distribute small carbon buoys made from fast carbon-rich forestry residue and limestone into the open ocean, hundreds of miles offshore. As the carbon buoys float, the limestone slowly dissolves, restoring ocean alkalinity, combatting ocean acidification and moving fast carbon to slow. The buoys that are seeded with algae fix fast carbon through photosynthesis directly from the upper ocean’s fast carbon cycle. After less than three months, the buoy and algae lose buoyancy and sink rapidly. The carbon embodied in the buoy and algae will either be buried in ocean sediments or consumed by deep-sea marine life.

“Transparency and independent validation and verification are critical to the advancement and eventual large-scale deployment of carbon removal technologies,” wrote the company in a press release. “In Running Tide’s case, this includes a review of processes for quantifying net carbon removed, assessing its permanence and additionality, the application of the best available science and a comprehensive consideration of environmental and ecological impacts associated with deploying Running Tide’s carbon removal systems.”

The review will be carried out by carbon experts from Deloitte and will focus on Running Tide’s planned 2023 carbon removal research and operations in Iceland. The first phase will include Deloitte’s review of Running Tide’s project proposal and Environmental Impact Assessment plans.

During phase two, Deloitte will review Running Tide’s Framework Protocol detailing the quantification approach for their carbon removal system in accordance with ISO standards, specifically ISO 14064-2, which describes the principles and requirements carbon projects must follow as the basis for generating high-quality carbon credits.

“Deloitte’s review of the Framework Protocol is being conducted in parallel with a thorough peer-review process,” wrote the company. “The peer-review process is currently ongoing and has garnered feedback from experts in the carbon removal, oceanographic and climate spheres, and will ensure stakeholder considerations are effectively integrated into the public release of the Protocol.”

This Maine company thinks kelp buoys and oyster farming can save the ocean through carbon capture and sequestration

It is expected that this expert review and independent oversight will be a requirement for all planned and future carbon removal projects conducted by Running Tide, which will also be subject to additional third-party validation and verification.

Running Tide’s mandate is to restore ocean health, rebalance the carbon cycle, decarbonize global supply chains and revitalize coastal communities. The company develops integrated software and hardware systems, designs monitoring and measurement capabilities and deploys solutions, including systems for open ocean carbon removal and combatting ocean acidification.

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