The Deep Blue Drawdown System
Current levels of CO2 in our atmosphere are so high that even if the world halted all emissions within a year, it would not be sufficient to prevent the catastrophic impacts of climate change, like extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and loss of biodiversity. Carbon drawdown—actively removing CO2 from the atmosphere and sequestering it—will be an essential part of any effective solution to a warming planet.
Our system works in concert with the natural rhythms of the ocean, leveraging the natural qualities of sugar kelp. It doesn’t involve building giant CO2 capturing factories, or even planting massive forests (that are more and more prone to burning down every fire season). Unlike similar kelp-based projects that have been tried and failed, our system also doesn’t necessitate creating additional emissions from boats or planes, doesn’t rely on expensive materials, won’t enrich fossil fuel corporations hiding behind shell companies, and will benefit coastal indigenous communities in the Pacific Northwest.
When complete, the system will work like this:
1.
Seeded sugar kelp lines supported by pelagic “smart buoy” systems are deployed off coastal Alaska, remotely tracking and transmitting data about biomass, position, and other metrics as the kelp grows. As it grows, it drifts along with ocean currents.
2.
The kelp drifts for several months via the California Current, which flows southward from Coastal Alaska; eventually the kelp reaches a deep-ocean zone off the coast of Washington. When its position and other conditions are right, the buoy releases the kelp-bearing lines, sending the kelp to the deep seafloor.
3.
Our autonomous catamaran-style saildrones, guided by navigation systems that use AI to avoid hazards, recover the smart buoy after the kelp is dropped, then transport it back up the coast for redeployment.