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The startup Gigablue made a big announcement this year, highlighting a significant achievement: it sold 200,000 carbon credits to support what it calls a revolutionary technology in the battle againstclimate change.
Established three years ago by a group of business leaders from Israel, the company claims to have developed particles that, when released into the ocean, will capture carbon at the ocean floor. According to Gigablue, their approach, which "harnesses the power of nature," aims to save the planet.
But external scientists, frustrated by the company's limited information, state that significant doubts persist regarding whether Gigablue's technology functions as the company claims. Their concerns highlight tensions ina sector founded on minimal oversight and grand assurances— and an enticing opportunity to gain profit.
Jimmy Pallas, an event planner from Italy, reached an agreement with Gigablue a year ago. He mentioned that he has confidence in the company's ability to fulfill its commitments — guaranteeing that the transportation, food, and power for a recent gathering of 1,000 people will be balanced out by particles in the sea.
Gigablue's service is akin to "an additional trash bin" where Pallas can dispose of his unnecessary waste, he mentioned.
Just like I use my garbage can — I don't track where the truck that collects my trash takes it," he said. "I'll trust their word.
Several hundred thousand carbon credits
Gigablue envisions a significant future for carbon removal. It was initially called "Gigaton," named after the one billion metric tons of carbon dioxide that many scientists believe must be taken out of the atmosphere annually to reduce global warming.
The company initiated tests in the South Pacific Ocean last year and mentions that it will collaborate with national authorities to establish a "sequestration area" — a specific section of the ocean where "pulses" of particles will be released periodically throughout the seasons.
Gigablue claims its offering is also cost-effective — set at a price point designed to draw in investors.
"Each time we visit the ocean, we create hundreds of thousands of carbon credits, and this is something we plan to keep doing consistently in the coming years and into the future, increasing each year," co-founder Ori Shaashua stated.
Carbon credits, which have become more popular in the past ten years, are certificates representing the removal of one metric ton of carbon dioxide from the air. In theory, companies that purchase these credits can lower their environmental impact without having to cut their own emissions — for example, by funding another company to plant trees orcapture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Only a small number of nations have mandated that local businesses acquire carbon credits. The majority of companies that obtain them, such as Microsoft and Google, do so on a voluntary basis.
The funding has supported a group of startups such as Gigablue that are keen to address the climate crisis, but they are also inconsistently regulated, scientifically complicated, and in certain instancesbeen linked to fraud.
Gigablue has committed 200,000 credits to SkiesFifty, a new company focused on implementing more sustainable methods within the aviation sector. This represents the biggest transaction yet for a climate-focused startup based in the ocean, as reported by the tracking platform CDR.fyi, accounting for over half of all ocean-related carbon credits sold during the previous year.
And it might lead to a quickened pace in the company's efforts. Gigablue aims to achieve a target this year of capturing 10 metric tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of particles it releases, according to Shaashua. At that rate, Gigablue would spread at least 20,000 tons of particles into the ocean.
Gigablue did not disclose the earnings from the sale, and the team at SkiesFifty chose not to participate in interviews for this article. Most credits are sold for a few hundred dollars each — however, a chart on Gigablue's website indicates that its prices are lower than nearly all other carbon capture methods available.
A campaign to rescue the planet
The company was founded by four businesspeople from the technology sector. As per their LinkedIn pages, the CEO of Gigablue once worked at an online grocery startup, while the COO served as vice president at SeeTree, a firm that secured $60 million to offer farmers data about their trees.
Shaashua, who frequently represents Gigablue, mentioned that he focuses on applying artificial intelligence to achieve beneficial results globally. He co-established a data analysis firm that monitored exposure risks throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, and headed an automotive startup that facilitated the sharing of information regarding vehicle usage and traffic trends.
"Three years ago, I chose to apply the same approach, so to speak, to climate," Shaashua stated.
Under his direction, he mentioned, Gigablue developed an AI-powered "digital twin" of the ocean using numerous indicators to identify where to release the particles.
The chief technology officer, Sapir Markus-Alford, obtained a bachelor's degree in earth and environmental sciences from Ben-Gurion University in Israel in 2021, just prior to establishing Gigablue.
Markus-Alford mentioned that she started her academic journey and eventual career at Gigablue following a series of diving trips across the globe, where she witnessed bleached coral reefs and other effects of rising water temperatures.
"I realized that the most beneficial action we could take for the ocean is to be capable of removing CO2," Markus-Alford stated.
A representative from Gigablue did not confirm if the other co-founders possess graduate degrees in oceanography or environmental science, but mentioned that the company's overall team comprises 46 Ph.D.s with knowledge in biology, chemistry, oceanography, and environmental science. Markus-Alford noted that this number includes external experts and academics and "everyone who supports us."
The company's hiring has grown from Israel to locations in New York and New Zealand, according to Shaashua.
Social media posts promoting available positions at Gigablue motivated potential candidates to "Join Our Mission to Save the World!"
Capturing carbon at the ocean floor
The unique particles developed by Gigablue are designed to absorb carbon in the ocean by remaining afloat for several days while cultivating small algae, then quickly descending to the ocean floor.
We serve as a lift for carbon," Shaashua stated. "We are transferring the carbon from the top to the bottom.
Algae, often called phytoplankton, has been of interest to climate researchers for a long time due to its ability to take in carbon dioxide from the water as it develops. Should the algae descend to the deep ocean or the seafloor, Gigablue anticipates that the carbon will remain there for hundreds to thousands of years.
The main objective is to significantly reduce carbon dioxide concentrations so that the ocean can restore equilibrium with the atmosphere by absorbing more CO2 from the air. This achievement could aid in slowing down global warming, although it remains a topic of ongoing research among climate experts.
The founders of Gigablue have mentioned that the company's efforts are influenced by nature and "extremely environmentally friendly." The company's particles and sinking techniques merely mimic what nature has been doing "since the beginning," according to Shaashua.
Gigablue conducted its initial test of sinking particles in the Mediterranean in March of last year.
Later, during two trips to the South Pacific, the company released 60 cubic meters — roughly equivalent to two shipping containers — of particles near the coast of New Zealand.
Materials kept a mystery
Although Gigablue has entered into multiple business agreements, it has not yet disclosed the composition of its particles. This is partially due to the company's assertion that it will develop various particles designed for different seasons and ocean regions.
“It’s proprietary,” Markus-Alford said.
Documents offer insight into potential components. As per the permit details, Gigablue's initial trial in New Zealand last year included the release of pure vermiculite particles, a porous clay commonly utilized in potting soil.
In the second New Zealand test, the company introduced particles composed of vermiculite, crushed rock, a plant-derived wax, along with manganese and iron.
A patent released last year suggests that the particles might also be composed of numerous other materials, such as cotton, rice husks, or jute, along with synthetic components like polyester fibers or lint. The particles include various potential binding agents and can contain up to 18 different chemicals and metals, ranging from iron to nickel to vanadium.
Markus-Alford mentioned that Gigablue's particles satisfy specific criteria without detailing future designs: "All the materials we use are natural, non-toxic, non-hazardous, and can be found in the ocean," she stated. She did not address the potential use of cotton or rice but confirmed that the particles will not contain any type of plastic.
When questioned about vermiculite, which is generally extracted from land and heated to expand, Markus-Alford mentioned that rivers and erosion carry most substances, including vermiculite, into the ocean. "Essentially, everything that exists on land can be found in the ocean," she stated.
The company stated that it has hired an environmental organization to confirm that the particles are safe for thousands of different organisms, such as mussels and oysters. According to Gigablue, any materials used in future particles will receive approval from local authorities.
Shaashua has stated that the particles are so harmless that they have no effect on the ocean.
"We are not altering the water's chemical composition or its biological aspects," Shaashua stated.
Ken Buesseler, a senior scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution with years of experience researching the ocean's biological carbon cycle, states that although he is interested in Gigablue's plan, the notion that the particles have no effect on the ocean is "nearly impossible to believe."
"There must be a connection between what they are releasing into the ocean and the carbon dioxide that is dissolved in the water for this, quote, to function," Buesseler stated.
Buesseler co-leads a non-profit organization of scientists aiming to harness the potential of ocean algae to absorb carbon. The group holds regular discussions on this topic, and Gigablue participated in one in April.
"I departed with more inquiries than resolutions," Buesseler remarked.
Scientists raise questions
Several researchers, not connected to Gigablue, who were interviewed by The Associated Press, expressed curiosity about how a company with minimal publicly available details regarding its technology managed to obtain a deal involving 200,000 carbon credits.
The company's approach, they mentioned, will rely on the extent of algae growth on the particles and the quantity that settles into the deep ocean. To date, Gigablue has not provided any research supporting these figures.
Thomas Kiørboe, a professor specializing in ocean ecology at the Technical University of Denmark, along with Philip Boyd, an oceanographer from the University of Tasmania who focuses on the role of algae in the Earth's carbon cycle, expressed skepticism about whether algae would receive sufficient sunlight to thrive within the particles.
It is more probable that the particles would draw in hungry bacteria, Kiørboe mentioned.
Standard phytoplankton do not thrive on surfaces, nor do they establish themselves on particles," Kiørboe stated. "To most phytoplankton ecologists, this would simply be, I believe, ridiculous.
The speed at which Gigablue claims its particles settle—up to a hundred meters (yards) each hour—could cause algae to detach from the particles during the rapid fall, Boyd noted.
It is probable that certain particles might also be consumed by fish — which could reduce the amount of carbon being captured, and prompt concerns about how these particles might affect ocean life.
Boyd is keen on observing field data demonstrating algae development and desires evidence that Gigablue's particles lead to increased CO2 absorption by the ocean.
"These are extremely difficult problems that I believe, especially regarding the biological aspect, no one on Earth has found answers to," he stated.
James Kerry, a senior marine and climate scientist with the environmental organization OceanCare and a senior research fellow at James Cook University in Australia, has been closely monitoring Gigablue's efforts.
"What we're facing is a scenario where a company, specifically a startup, is selling significant amounts of credits for a technology that hasn't been proven yet," he stated.
In a statement, Gigablue mentioned that bacteria do consume the particles, but the impact is small, and their measurements will consider any reduction in algae or particles as they descend.
The company mentioned that a prominent scientific institution in New Zealand has endorsed Gigablue. Gigablue engaged the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, a government-owned entity, to evaluate multiple versions of its methods.
In a newly published letter on Gigablue's website, the institute's lead ocean scientist stated that his team is confident the company's work is "scientifically valid" and the suggested methods for carbon sequestration are solid.
Whether Gigablue's approaches are considered effective, for the time being, will be decided not by regulators — but by another private organization.
A new market
Puro.earth is among various organizations referred to as registries that operate within the carbon credit industry.
In the absence of oversight and with climate startups possibly exaggerating their effects, registries seek to confirm the actual amount of carbon that was eliminated.
The Finnish organization Puro.earth has validated over a million carbon credits since it was established seven years ago. However, the majority of these credits came from land-based climate initiatives. Only in recent times has it begun to focus on creating guidelines for the ocean.
Partly due to the fact that marine carbon credits are among the most recent to be exchanged in the market. Many ocean-related companies have joined the sector, with credit sales increasing from 2,000 in 2021 to over 340,000, including Gigablue's transaction last year.
However, the ocean continues to be a challenging and costly environment for conducting business or conducting research. Some ocean-related startups have sold credits only to collapse before finishing their projects. Running Tide, a startup based in Maine that sought to remove carbon from the atmosphere by sinking wood chips and seaweed, suddenly closed last year despite receiving $50 million in investor support, leaving approximately 7,000 carbon credits unsold.
In June, Puro.earth released a preliminary method that will be utilized to validate Gigablue's efforts, which was developed in collaboration with Gigablue. After it is completed, Gigablue will compensate the registry for every metric ton of carbon dioxide it asserts has been removed.
Marianne Tikkanen, who leads standards at Puro.earth, mentioned that while this method was developed with Gigablue, her team hopes other startups will follow the same strategy.
"We hope that numerous individuals will be able to accomplish it and that it encourages the market," she stated.
The road ahead
It is yet to be determined if New Zealand authorities will approve the larger "sequestration area" that Gigablue has suggested establishing, or if the company will consider other nations.
New Zealand's environmental regulator has currently classified Gigablue's activities as research — a classification that does not necessitate any official review or public input. The agency stated in a release that it cannot discuss how it would manage a potential commercial request from Gigablue in the future.
However, similar to many climate-related startups, Gigablue engaged in the sale of carbon credits during its research trips — not just securing a significant agreement, but also smaller ones.
Pallas, an Italian entrepreneur, mentioned that he purchased 22 carbon credits from Gigablue last year to balance the emissions linked to his event in November. He stated that Gigablue provided them to him at no cost — but added that he plans to cover the cost of additional ones in the future.
Pallas pursued carbon credits as he notices the effects of climate change everywhere, and he anticipates stricter regulations in Italy for companies to reduce their carbon footprint in the near future. He selected Gigablue since they are among the top providers: "They have volume," he mentioned.
The way authorities perceive Gigablue's expanding business activities may be significant within the framework of an international agreement that has prohibited specific climate-related operations in the ocean.
Over ten years ago, many nations, including New Zealand, decided that no commercial climate-related projects involving the release of iron into the ocean should be permitted. This method is referred to as "iron fertilization." They stated that only research activities, without any potential for financial profit, should be allowed.
Iron is seen as a crucial component for promoting algae growth, and it was included in the particles that Gigablue released in the Pacific Ocean in October. Multiple scientific studies have expressed worries that triggering large-scale algae blooms fueled by iron could reduce essential nutrients in the ocean and negatively impact fisheries.
The startup refutes any connection to iron dumping, stating that its particles do not release iron directly into the water and do not lead to an uncontrolled algae growth.
"We are not enriching the ocean," Markus-Alford stated.
"In truth, we examined iron fertilization as a concept to steer clear of," Shaashua stated.
However, the draft methodology that Puro.earth will employ to validate Gigablue's efforts highlights many of the same issues that have been previously identified regarding iron fertilization, such as disturbances to the marine food chain.
Other researchers who have spoken with AP recognize a direct connection between Gigablue's activities and the disputed method. "If they are using iron to encourage phytoplankton growth," stated Kerry, an OceanCare scientist, "then it is considered iron fertilization."
Currently, scientific issues do not appear to be a concern for Gigablue's customers. The company has already scheduled its next research trip to New Zealand and aims to introduce additional particles this autumn.
They have good intentions, and so do I," said Pallas regarding his backing of Gigablue. "At some point, I'll take a flight, head to New Zealand, and board a boat to check out their progress.
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This narrative was funded by the Walton Family Foundation. The AP is entirely accountable for all material.
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