Frontier Buys $31M Worth of Antacids for the Ocean in Bold Climate Move
Frontier buys $31M worth of antacids for the ocean in a groundbreaking deal that could reshape the future of carbon removal. The carbon removal clearinghouse, founded by Google, Stripe, Shopify, and others, has committed $31.3 million to startup Planetary for 115,211 metric tons of carbon removal credits.
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Unlike previous Frontier projects focusing on direct air capture or bioenergy, this initiative tackles climate change by enhancing ocean alkalinity—a process that makes the seas more alkaline, allowing them to absorb more carbon dioxide.
Why Frontier’s $31M Ocean Antacid Deal Matters
This is Frontier’s first major investment in ocean-based carbon removal. By boosting alkalinity levels, oceans can capture carbon while also protecting marine life that depends on alkaline waters, such as corals and shellfish.
Planetary aims to eventually cut the cost of carbon removal from $270 per ton today to under $100. If scaled globally, ocean alkalinity enhancement could remove over 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year—a massive step toward slowing climate change.
Oceans on the Frontline of Climate Change
For centuries, oceans have quietly absorbed excess carbon dioxide, slowing global warming. However, this has come at a cost: seawater has become 30% more acidic since the Industrial Revolution, threatening marine ecosystems.
Corals, oysters, and other shell-building organisms struggle in acidic waters, which dissolve the very skeletons and shells they rely on for survival. By using antacids to rebalance pH, Frontier and Planetary hope to restore ocean health while also capturing carbon.
How Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Works
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Carbon capture at sea: Adding alkaline substances to ocean water helps neutralize carbonic acid.
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Boosts marine ecosystems: Healthier waters allow marine organisms to thrive.
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Scalable solution: Potential to remove billions of tons of CO₂ annually.
Planetary’s process not only addresses excess carbon but also creates a two-in-one climate fix: restoring marine ecosystems and pulling carbon from the atmosphere.
A New Era for Carbon Removal
Frontier’s $31M bet signals growing confidence in ocean-based solutions. While direct air capture and bioenergy remain vital, the ocean represents a massive untapped resource in the fight against climate change.
As costs fall and technologies mature, ocean alkalinity could become one of the most powerful tools in reaching global net-zero goals.
Frontier buys $31M worth of antacids for the ocean not just as a carbon removal experiment but as a step toward a climate revolution beneath the waves. If successful, the deal could mark the beginning of a new era in geoengineering—where the oceans themselves help undo the damage caused by centuries of carbon emissions.
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