Frontier Climate has facilitated offtake agreements with Planetary, a company that removes atmospheric CO2 and aids with local ocean acidification mitigation by adding dissolved alkaline minerals to seawater.
The ocean is the world’s largest carbon sink and has absorbed roughly 30% of the excess CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels. This excess CO2 changes the pH balance of the ocean and leads to acidification which has profound impacts, including preventing shellfish from forming their shells and harming coral reefs. Planetary technology, ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), essentially tackles ocean acidification by adding antacids–alkaline mineral addition–to the water. This aims to restore ocean pH, allowing the ocean to absorb more CO2.
Planetary’s process involves the addition of dissolved alkaline minerals, such as calcium oxide (CaO) or magnesium oxide (MgO), into coastal surface waters. This process boosts the ocean’s natural ability to drawdown carbon by converting dissolved CO2 into stable bicarbonate ions, which are durably stored in the ocean for over 10,000 years. They use existing coastal facilities—like power plant cooling water outfalls—to ensure quick and effective integration without the need for massive new infrastructure investment. Unlike biological approaches, OAE works through the ocean’s chemical buffering system, avoiding disruption to biological carbon cycling and food webs.
Planetary is conducting research to quantify these benefits in partnership with academic institutions (Dalhousie University) and local communities (First Nations, environmental groups, municipal leaders, and fisheries).This offtake includes binding commitments to share data in line with FAIR data principles and the Carbon to Sea data protocol.
“Ulnooweg is proud to have worked with Planetary Technologies on the Joint Learning Opportunity initiative,” said Christopher Googoo, Chief Operating Officer, Ulnooweg and Executive Director, Ulnooweg Indigenous Communities Foundation. “Through this collaboration, we have explored how innovative ocean alkalinity enhancement projects, like the one at Tufts Cove, can inform and support Indigenous-led conservation priorities, including oyster restoration in Prince Edward Island.”
The company said it has the potential to remove several billion tons of CO₂ with a credible path to under $100 per ton. Frontier buyers will pay Planetary $31.3 million to remove 115,211 tons of CO2 between 2026 and 2030.
Frontier has facilitated purchases on behalf of its Founding Members Stripe, Google, Shopify, and McKinsey Sustainability, as well as members Autodesk, H&M Group, and Workday. Additionally, Aledade, Canva, Match Group, Samsara, SKIMS, Skyscanner, Wise, and Zendesk have participated via Watershed’s partnership with Frontier.
Planetary said its methodology offers a path to extremely low-cost carbon removal, with a potential to remove billions of tons of COe annually at a price of $50-160/ ton contingent on 1) switching to lower-cost alkaline feedstocks and 2) co-locating facilities near these feedstock sources to cut transportation costs.
The company said it dissolves the alkaline minerals before releasing them in the ocean. This removes the uncertainty around where and at what point in time the material dissolves to do its job. Planetary then uses sensors and validated computational models to measure the effects of the added alkalinity, including on air-sea gas exchange.
“As Mi’kmaw people, our responsibility to the ocean and environment is rooted in generations of knowledge and care,” said Jim Hepworth, CEO of Business Development and Social Enterprises, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq. “We’re encouraged to see innovative climate solutions, like those being developed by Planetary, approached with attention to both science and community. Our ongoing conversations with them reflect a broader recognition that Indigenous voices are vital to the future of environmental innovation.”
