US-based carbon removal company Captura has commenced operations at its new pilot plant in Kona, Hawaii, which captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) directly from ocean water.

Developed in collaboration with multinational energy company Equinor, the facility is capable of capturing 1,000 tonnes per annum of CO₂.

The facility marks a significant step in the commercialisation of direct ocean capture (DOC) technology, which utilises the ocean to remove excess CO₂ from the atmosphere.

It is the third and final pilot in Captura's development programme, and prepares the company’s DOC technology for use in large commercial systems globally.

DOC technology enhances the ocean's natural ability to absorb additional CO₂ by extracting it directly from the upper ocean.

The DOC approach to carbon removal is inherently scalable and efficient, leveraging natural oceanic processes without requiring feedstock or generating waste.

Captura's DOC technology blends electrodialysis and gas extraction innovations with commonly available water and gas handling systems.

These modular technologies were successfully tested at two pilot plants in Los Angeles. The Hawaii pilot will now confirm they can be used on a larger scale in bigger plants.

Captura is advancing with initial design work for its first large-scale commercial facility, expected to capture tens of thousands of tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Captura CEO Steve Oldham said: "Captura's journey from lab-scale testing to our third technology demonstration in just three years is a testament to the scalability of our solution.

"This facility in Hawaii is the last milestone before we move to widespread commercial deployment of DOC technology. Its rapid installation and commissioning in just over two months demonstrates how our simple, modular design is ready to be scaled quickly to help address the urgent climate and energy challenge."

The CO₂ extracted at DOC facilities is delivered as pure gas. It can be stored, used to create renewable fuels or supplied to industries that need CO₂.

In Hawaii, the CO₂ captured at the Captura plant will be provided to local industries such as aquaculture to help lower their carbon footprint.

The facility operates at the Hawai'i Ocean Science and Technology Park, an ocean research facility managed by the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority.

Captura's technology is scalable, cost-effective and protects ocean ecosystems. It produces no waste or byproducts and only removes excess CO₂, which the atmosphere naturally replaces.