As the Carbon XPRIZE brings serious attention to scalable carbon removal, one company is proving that the oceans—when carefully restored—can play a major role in stabilizing the climate. Planetary, based in Dartmouth, Canada, is competing in the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition with a solution that works with natural ocean chemistry rather than against it.
Their approach is called Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE), and it’s already delivering real, independently verified carbon removal.
What Is Planetary?
Planetary Technologies Inc. is a climate technology company focused on removing carbon dioxide safely, durably, and at scale. The company is commercializing a novel form of Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement based on decades of research by its co-founder, Dr. Greg H. Rau.
Planetary has already delivered hundreds of tonnes of verified carbon removal to early buyers—including Stripe, Shopify, and British Airways—demonstrating not just scientific credibility, but real market demand.
How Planetary Removes Carbon
Planetary’s core technology restores the ocean’s natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide. Over time, ocean waters have become more acidic due to rising CO₂ levels, reducing their capacity to take up additional carbon.
Through Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement, Planetary carefully increases the alkalinity of coastal waters. This allows the ocean to:
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Absorb more CO₂ from the atmosphere
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Convert it into stable dissolved forms
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Store it safely for long periods
At the same time, this process helps counter ocean acidification, offering potential benefits for marine ecosystems that are under increasing stress.
Built to Work With Existing Infrastructure
One of Planetary’s biggest advantages is how easily its system integrates into the real world.
Rather than building massive new facilities, Planetary installs its technology directly at existing outfall locations, such as:
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Wastewater treatment plants
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Power plants
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Steel mills
The entire operational system fits inside two shipping containers and can be deployed in a matter of days. This modular design makes Planetary’s solution fast to install, cost-effective, and highly scalable across the globe.
Verified, Transparent, and Community-Focused
Planetary works closely with regulators, scientists, industry partners, and local communities to ensure its work is safe and transparent. From the beginning, the company has prioritized independent oversight and scientific validation.
In 2021, Planetary began working with independent experts at Dalhousie University to conduct studies on its approach. This collaboration helps ensure that both carbon removal performance and environmental impacts are rigorously understood.
This emphasis on transparency is especially important for ocean-based carbon removal, where trust and careful monitoring are essential.
Why Planetary Stands Out in the Carbon XPRIZE
The Carbon XPRIZE demands solutions that can scale to gigaton levels, remain durable for decades or longer, and be verified with high confidence. Planetary’s approach aligns well with these goals by combining:
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Natural ocean chemistry
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Modular, infrastructure-ready deployment
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Independent verification
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Real commercial customers
Rather than relying on future promises, Planetary is already operating, delivering results, and refining its model for global deployment.
The Bigger Picture
As climate change accelerates, the world needs carbon removal solutions that are not only effective, but also practical and responsible. Planetary’s work shows that the ocean—when carefully managed—can remain one of humanity’s strongest allies in the fight against climate change.
In the Carbon XPRIZE, Planetary represents a future where carbon removal is integrated into everyday infrastructure, supported by science, and scaled with care.
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