The challenge of capturing CO2 in a fully sustainable manner is pushing researchers and companies to be more creative and embrace different approaches. One solution is direct ocean capture (DOC) developed by the California-based startup Captura, which has support from important Japanese investors.

Captura’s technology was presented by the company’s CEO Steve Oldham at Smart Energy Week in Tokyo on October 2. Captura is as green as carbon capture can possibly be, which sets it apart from other CCS methods that are often criticized by environmental groups for being too aligned with the interests of the oil and gas industry.

In brief, Captura’s system amplifies the ocean’s natural role as a carbon sink, since the ocean can naturally capture CO2 from the air. This feature could make Captura an interesting environmental solution for decarbonization, and it would be far less costly and complex than current systems.

While Captura appears to be solidly ‘green’, it’s still a CO2 capture and storage technology that aims to alleviate industrial emissions and not prevent them entirely. Thus, it faces many of the same challenges associated with the still-underdeveloped CCS industry in general.