Savoie et al. (2025): Novel field trial for ocean alkalinity enhancement using electrochemically derived aqueous alkalinity
Allison M. Savoie, Mallory Ringham, Carolina Torres Sanchez, Brendan R. Carter, Sean Dougherty, Richard A. Feely, Dave Hegeman, Julian Herndon, Tarang Khangaonkar, Jeremy Loretz, Tyson Minck, Todd Pelman, Lakshitha Premathilake, Chinmayee Subban, Jesse Vance and Nicholas D. Ward, IN: Frontiers in Environmental Engineering, https://doi.org/10.3389/fenve.2025.1641277
Ocean alkalinity enhancement has been gaining attention for its potential to durably (10,000+ years) store large amounts of CO₂ (Gt + where 1 Gt = 1 × 10⁹ tons), while potentially ameliorating acidification in the vicinity of the alkalinity release. This study focuses on a novel release of electrochemically derived aqueous alkalinity into Sequim Bay, WA, through a previously established wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This research was made possible through the collaboration of industry, academic, and federal partners, which enabled the establishment of an Ebb Carbon electrochemical mCDR system at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Sequim, WA, for ocean alkalinity enhancement field trials. During these field trials, pH was measured across the WWTP system from the initial alkalinity dosing, throughout the WWTP, and at the outfall. The authors use the NBS scale for pH throughout this study as it is the scale used in discharge permit limits specified for WWTP and NPDES regulation and compliance monitoring.