Singapore is set to launch the Equatic-1 demonstration plant in Tuas, aiming to amplify the ocean’s natural CO2 absorption and sequester carbon for thousands of years, with potential global impacts.
Singapore is poised to become home to the world’s largest facility designed to enhance the ocean’s capacity to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), with the Equatic-1 demonstration plant scheduled to begin operations in the first quarter of 2026. Situated in Tuas, this pioneering project is a collaborative effort between Singapore’s national water agency PUB and the American start-up Equatic, which specialises in ocean-based carbon removal technologies.
The facility’s technology revolves around altering seawater chemistry to extract dissolved CO2 for long-term storage. By processing seawater and then returning it to the ocean with preserved chemistry, the system enables more atmospheric CO2 to dissolve naturally into the ocean, thereby boosting its role as a carbon sink. Since the ocean covers 70% of the Earth’s surface and currently absorbs about 30% of human-generated CO2 emissions, this technology seeks to amplify a crucial natural process. The principle chemical reaction within the plant involves passing an electrical current through seawater, splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, and transforming dissolved CO2 into stable calcium and magnesium-based solids like limestone and magnesium bicarbonate. These solids can sequester CO2 for at least 10,000 years and may also be repurposed as construction materials. The process simultaneously produces carbon-negative hydrogen, offering a clean energy source that can power the plant or serve other industrial needs.
Initially, the Equatic-1 plant will remove one tonne of CO2 per day, scaling up to a capacity of 10 tonnes daily once fully operational, equivalent to removing approximately 870 average cars from circulation. It is a significant increase from previous successful pilots in Singapore and Los Angeles, which removed around 100kg of CO2 per day. The full-scale facility represents a modular and scalable system, laying groundwork for substantial future expansion.
The project has attracted considerable investor interest, notably through a US$11.6 million Series A funding round co-led by Temasek Trust’s Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H) and Kibo Invest. Temasek Trust is the philanthropic branch of Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund Temasek, while Kibo Invest is a Singapore-based investor focusing on climate technology. The funding will support engineering scale-up, technology commercialisation, manufacturing, and further development of Equatic’s technology. Moreover, Equatic has announced plans for its first commercial-scale plant in North America, expected to remove approximately 109,500 tonnes of CO2 annually and produce a sizable volume of carbon-negative hydrogen, with corporate clients such as Boeing pre-purchasing carbon credits and hydrogen.
PUB’s ambition with such innovative technologies aligns with its target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045, five years ahead of Singapore’s national deadline. The agency is actively exploring novel methods to reduce its carbon footprint, including integrating renewable energy and improving energy efficiency across water treatment processes.
Nevertheless, this technology represents a major intervention in ocean chemistry, prompting expert caution. Marine biogeochemist Associate Professor Patrick Martin from Nanyang Technological University highlights that scaling marine carbon dioxide removal will inevitably alter seawater’s carbon and pH balance, potentially impacting marine ecosystems. Dr Karenne Tun of Singapore’s National Parks Board emphasises that any human intervention in the marine environment carries risks, primarily through changes in ocean chemistry. However, she also notes that the Equatic-1 project is designed to avoid altering ocean chemistry upon discharge, suggesting minimal environmental impact if operating procedures are strictly followed and water quality is continuously monitored. PUB confirms that effluent quality will comply with existing environmental regulations, and an independent consultant has been engaged to model the effects of discharge, ensuring protective measures are in place.
As this technology evolves, PUB and other stakeholders plan to maintain rigorous environmental oversight to balance carbon removal goals with the preservation of marine biodiversity.
