Using Wave-Driven Upwelling Pumps To Enhance The Ocean’s Absorption of CO 2 : Feasible or Fantasy? Philip W. Kithil CEO Atmocean, Inc. Santa Fe, NM .

Using Wave-Driven Upwelling Pumps To Enhance The Ocean’s

Absorption of CO2: Feasible or Fantasy?

Philip W. KithilCEO

Atmocean, Inc.Santa Fe, NM

[email protected]

505-310-2294

Core Questions (For Any Mitigation Alternative)

• Is fundamental concept feasible?• Is it scalable - to make a reasonable dent in

the problem?• Does the technology exist today? Can it be

fielded quickly?• Is it cost effective?• What are possible tradeoffs, & how are these

handled (Governance)?

TopicsTechnical Commercial

1. CO2 Problem

2. The ocean carbon cycle

3. Atmocean wave-driven pumps

4. Operational factors5. Scaling up

1. Finance 2. Governance3. Fishing4. Side effects &

concerns:a) Ecologyb) Maritimec) Life cycled) Societal issues

5. References, Q&A

The CO2 Problem

Reminder:

1 unit C = 3.67 units CO2

Target Atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim? (Hansen et.al.)

“Desire to reduce airborne CO2 raises the question of whether CO2 could be drawn from the air artificially. There are no large-scale technologies for CO2 air capture now, but with strong research and development support and industrial-scale pilot projects sustained over decades it may be possible to achieve costs ~$200/tC or perhaps less. At $100/tC, the cost of removing 50 ppm of CO2 is ~$10 trillion.”

In other words, to get ONE PPM reduction requires removing (or not emitting) 2 gigatons of atmospheric CO2.

Branson’s $25 million Virgin Earth Challenge requires removal of 1 gt C each year for 10 years.

Scale & Severity of the CO2 Problem

350

CO

2 (

pp

m)

Stable climate is < 350 ppm – so we are 40 ppm in the RED - And, getting worse (C emissions now ~9 Gt per year).

The Ocean Carbon Cycle & Potential CO2 Absorption

Carbon Cycle: Ocean Annual Flux & Storage

Some Carbon Processors of the Oceans

The Basic Idea

• Deeper ocean is nutrient-rich compared to surface.

• Use kinetic wave-energy to bring these nutrients up to sunlit zone, growing more phytoplankton.

• To metabolize these nutrients, the plankton absorb (dissolved) CO2 and give off O2.

• Enhance the flux of CO2 into the oceans.

How Big Are The Waves?

120 300 400 50051,051,890 38,759,328 31,905,887 25,127,015

Depth of Pump (m), Annual Upwelled Volume (m^3)

Med

ian

How Many Tons C Per Year?

• Madin study – Salps fecal pellets 4,000 t C per 100,000 sq km/60 days (~9 t C/pump/year).

• Karl-Letelier – 2nd, diazotrophic blooms should produce net export of 9.5 t C/pump/year based on 7 m2 pump operating at 120m depth in Pacific waves.

• Lebrato et. al. – gelatinous carcasses litter the seafloor, could be up to 20 t C/pump/year.

• Lebrato et.al. – echinoderms also highly productive in storing carbon on seafloor.

Karl-Letelier Diazotrophic Bloom Predicted C Net Export

Karl DM, Letelier RM, Nitrogen fixation-enhanced carbon sequestration in low-nitrate, low-chlorophyll seascapes, M7547, Mar.Ecol.-Prog.Ser., 364, 257-268, 19 Jun 2008 CE:LT TS:LL PP: doi: 10.3354/meps07547.

15.2

15.5

5.8

2.5

2.9

2.0 1

5.7 3

2.7

41.2

54.5

101.1 1

21.8

141.5

114.9

-

25

50

75

100

125

150

175

100

120

140

160

180

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

750

1000

Net C Units

Depth, m

Net Carbon Sequestered units per cubic meter upwelled

Conversion of Karl-Letelier Net Sequestration According To Wave Kinetic Energy & Pumping Depth

Unknown how much is respired.

Depth 120 300 400 500Volume upwelled per year (mil m 3̂) 51 39 32 25

Net C sequestered per m 3̂, mmol 15.5 32.7 54.5 121.8 Total Net C per year, 10 9̂ mol 791 1,267 1,739 3,060

Kg C per pump per year 9,496 15,209 20,866 36,726 Metric Tons C Per Pump Per Year 9.5 15.2 20.9 36.7

Kg CO2/pump/year 34,821 55,772 76,517 134,673 Metric Tons CO2 Per Pump Per Year 35 56 77 135

Net CO2 Export Per Year For Various Pumping Depths

How Atmocean Wave-Driven Pumps Work

Figure 1a: Tube Version Figure 1b: Tubeless Version

Buoy

Flexible, Buoyant Tube

Multiple Valves

Single Valve In Cylinder

(Patents pending)

Two Pump Models

Deployment Method

10” Diameter Tube PumpTest Results 12-11-05 Bermuda: Atmocean's Wave-Driven Pump

Brings Up Cold Water From 500' Deep

18.0

18.5

19.0

19.5

20.0

20.5

21.0

21.5

22.0

22.5

23.0

12/11/0500:40:44.0 12/11/0501:30:44.0 12/11/0502:20:44.0 12/11/0503:10:44.0 12/11/0504:00:44.0 12/11/0504:50:44.0 12/11/0505:40:44.0 12/11/0506:30:44.0 12/11/0507:20:44.0

Temperature deg. C.

Bottom Temp Inside Tube At Top Outside Tube At Top Surface Temp

Surface=22.5º

<< Temperature loggers on tubetop

At 500’=18.5º

1 hour

30” Diameter Tube Pump

48

51

54

57

60

63

8:25:00

8:30:00

8:35:00

8:40:00

8:45:00

8:50:00

8:55:00

9:00:00

Valve Open -Valve Closed

Temperatures deg F.

Pumping of Cold Water From 500' Depth

Temperature At 500' Depth

Temperature At Ocean Surface

Temperature At Top of Pump

Valve Closed

Valve Open

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

1.5

8:27:13

8:27:23

8:27:33

8:27:43

8:27:53

8:28:03

8:28:13

8:28:23

8:28:33

8:28:43

8:28:53

8:29:03

8:29:13

8:29:23

8:29:33

8:29:43

8:29:53

8:30:03

8:30:13

8:30:23

8:30:33

8:30:43

8:30:53

8:31:03

8:31:13

8:31:23

8:31:33

8:31:43

8:31:53

8:32:03

X Accel, g(LGR S/N: 1070733)

Valve action during and after DeploymentSan Diego Test 032207

Deployment ~2 min 10 secopen>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

1ststroke15 s.

subsequent strokes2-10 sec.

open

closed8:29:35

30” Diameter Tube Pump

GPS

Upper unit at 30 m to 50 m depth

Bottom unit at 120m to 150m depth

(Optional) sediment trap at 250m to 300m depth

PLUM Pinpoint, Localized-Effects, Upward Mixing

System

PLUM System - Development

• Tank testing• Simple upward-mixing models• First prototype (round)• Ocean drift test• Improved prototype (rectangular)• Sandia Labs computational fluid dynamics

modeling – ascertain effect of cross currents (Spring ‘10).

PLUM Tank Test

PLUM Ocean Test With GPS

GPS

5 stages,

40’ spacing

180’ total

depth

PLUM “Navigating” Between 2 Islands

GPS

PLUM - Likely Nutrient Mixing Caused By Ocean Currents

Practical Elements

1. Buoy size and shape – large enough, not too large.2. Valve size and area – rotate 90°3. Cable stretch – minimize/cost, flexibility4. Wave minimums – valve dimension5. Wave maximums – buoy submerge6. Deployment techniques – automatic, minimum

handling 7. Stored size & handling – shipping constraints8. Materials – median life - life cycle – non polluting9. Ecological impact – to be tested & verified

So….Operational Details:

The PLUM system seems feasible…

Where do you deploy it? Is it economic, and scalable?

(The devil is in the details)

High Seas - Primary Production(millions km2.…………..mg C m-2 d-1)

2.6 mk2

481 mgC5.2 mk2

463 mgC

7.3 mk2

268 mgC

9.1 mk2

388 mgC

12.3 mk2

352 mgC 14.9 mk2

353 mgC

17.2 mk2

361 mgC

21.9 mk2

301 mgC

10.2 km2

340 mgC

4.6 mk2

401 mgC

6.4 mk2

215 mgC

30.5 mk2

291 mgC

20.1 mk2

274 mgC

24.7 mk2

279 mgC

http://www.seaaroundus.org/eez/highseas.aspx

2.0 mk2 42 mgC

9.2 mk2 229 mgC

EEZ’s and High Seas Areas

http://www.seaaroundus.org/eez/eez.aspx

Scaling Up

Assume 1 PLUM sequesters 10 t C per year. How many PLUM systems are needed to make a difference?

Assumed Percent of Global Equiv CoalPLUM units Sequestration Emissions Plants

10,000 100,000 0.00% 0.12 100,000 1,000,000 0.01% 1.2

1,000,000 10,000,000 0.10% 12 10,000,000 100,000,000 1.00% 122

100,000,000 1,000,000,000 10.00% 1,222 190,891,737 1,908,917,371 USA 2,333

How Scary Are These PLUM Numbers? A Perspective On Scale

The total active pumping area of

100 million pumps, scaled to the oceans, is less than the size of a football kicking tee on a football

field.

A 9,500 TEU containership can

deploy 427,500 pumps per year.

Patent Pending

Large Scale Deployment

8.5’

13’8’

Possible Ports Adjacent To Major Ocean Gyres

Seattle. San Diego. Manzanillo. Bermuda. Las Palmas. Chile. Buenos Aires. Capetown. Mumbai. Perth. Sydney. Manila.

The Plan, The Outcome.

0.16 (195)

0.49 (597)

0.98 (1,201)

1.48 (1,604)

1.97 (2,407)

2 4816

32

64

-

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

1 4 7 10 13 16 19

Gt Carbon Sequestered

Year

Gt Carbon Sequestered (ECPP*)Containerships Operating

ECPP = equivalent number of coal power plants

Problem Defined.Possible “Quick Fix” Identified.

What about Financing?

And whose hand is on the switch (Governance)?

Partnering & Governance Business Model: Step One

Country desires to become

carbon neutral without

devastating its economy.

CountryLess Carbon

More Jobs

Partnering & Governance Business Model: Step Two

Country signs fixed-price long term contract with Containership

Operator to buy 100% of tons Carbon sequestered by pumps

manufactured within the country, & deployed from country’s ports.

Operator uses the contract to secure commercial loans to

manufacture & deploy pumps.

Each pump generates rev’s over 7 year life, earning ~8x more per

ship-mile compared to Operator’s point-to-point revenue model.

Containerships

Lenders

CountryLess Carbon

More Jobs

CountryLess Carbon

More Jobs

Partnering & Governance Business Model: Step Three

Fishing fleets

Lab: Carbon

Tons Verified

Some pumps come with sediment traps to verify the

carbon flux.

How to recover these?

Country contracts with its high seas fishing vessels.

How to verify the carbon captured in the traps?

Country contracts with independent test labs.

Containerships

Lenders

Partnering & Governance Business Model: Step Four

Oversight by International Maritime

Organization (a UN Affiliate).

If things go wrong or don’t measure up, it has

power to terminate program and require remaining pumps be removed or disabled.

Lab: CO2 Tons

VerifiedContainerships

Lenders

CountryLess Carbon

More Jobs

Fishing fleets

I.M.O.

Are The Incentives Aligned?• Country: Long term fixed carbon price. Gradual off-

ramp to become carbon neutral. Manufacturing jobs. Fishing revival, improved port utilization. Pay-as-you-go cost, no huge upfront financing needed.

• Containership operator: Makes ~8x more per ship mile than at present; zero’s own emissions; leverages existing financing. Great PR (helping save the world).

• Fishing industry: Sustainable harvest, more rev’s.• I.M.O./UN: Known, fixed-cost, controlled path to exit

fossil energy, much less disruptive to global economy. • Elected Officials: Economic & job gains give political

cover. Fixed carbon cost not at whim of market.

Why Private Sector Finance?

• High risk long term investments are not something most governments can do well. Too many competing needs.

• Private sector can manage this on a ROI (return on investment) basis.

• Timely (quick response to CO2 crisis).

Container Operator Financials

$(20,000,000,000)

$(10,000,000,000)

$-

$10,000,000,000

$20,000,000,000

$30,000,000,000

$40,000,000,000

$50,000,000,000

$60,000,000,000

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Financing (Cum. Cash Flow)

Atmocean Maersk QuoteProject 16-Nov

Income 28,211$ 2,928$ Expense 11,993$ 1,080$ EBIT 16,218$ 1,848$ EBIT Factor 8.8

Accrual Basis - per ship mile

Sustainable Ocean Fishing

• Wild fish harvest should double by 2030.

• Sustainable since PLUM constantly replenishes food supply.

• Doubling “protein from the sea” provides a nice meal every day for 542 million people.

Side Effects & Concerns

Ecological Risks

Maritime Risks

Lifecycle Issue

Societal Concerns

Ocean EcologyGeneral Issues

• Upward mixing is natural • What happens with PLUM is

a slightly amplified version of without PLUM.

• Process is proven for 3 billion years.

• Nothing foreign is added to the ocean.

• Effects very local to PLUM.• Reversible if necessary.• Ecological impact study

scheduled for 2010 -2012 will verify net export and ascertain side effects.

Specific Concerns

• Harmful algae blooms.

• Low oxygen regions.

• Effect on ocean pH.

• Effect on food web.

Maritime• VISIBILITY. Each PLUM unit has a GPS (data will be public), is

radar visible, flashing light for nighttime. Planned spacing is 1 kilometer.

• SURFACE APPEARANCE. Deployed in the open ocean hundreds of miles from shore, the only surface part is the buoy riding the waves.

• ENTANGLEMENT. – SURFACE VESSEL. If a direct vessel hit, accelerometer

triggers release of underwater components which sink out of the way. Lose the PLUM, but no damage to vessel.

– SUBMARINE. This is a concern yet to be resolved, as we are not familiar with sonar navigation gear on underwater warships.

– FISHING GEAR OR NETS. Some fishing practices will be forced to change – both long-lines and trawling could become entangled in the PLUM units.

Lifecycle Issues

• Steel is >85% recycled.

• PLUM systems rust to nothing over time (rate can be engineered).

• Production & shipping energy required:

• Sheet metal working (electricity)

• Land shipping, ocean shipping (various fuels)

• Once deployed, near-zero energy consumption.

Societal Concerns• Moral hazard argument:

By sidestepping the root cause you don’t fix the problem.

• When you stop doing the quick fix, environment rapidly will get much worse.

• Business earns profits at expense of global needs.

Country could legislate additional carbon reductions (e.g. match the tons sequestered in ocean, with tons avoided from conversion of fossil energy to renewable power).

Ocean pumps can be slowly withdrawn (we estimate 7% annual loss rate, zeroing in 7 years ).

ROI financial model provides discipline.

Selected ReferencesJames Hansen, Makiko Sato, Pushker Kharecha, David Beerling, Valerie Masson-Delmotte, Mark Pagani, Maureen Raymo, Dana L. Royer, James C. Zachos, Target atmospheric CO2: Where Should Humanity Aim? http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/2008/TargetCO2_20080407.pdf

 Karl DM, Letelier RM , Nitrogen fixation-enhanced carbon sequestration in low-nitrate, low chlorophyll seascapes, M 7547, Mar.Ecol.-Prog.Ser., 364, 257-268, 19 Jun 2008 CE: LT TS: LL PP: doi: 10.3354/meps07547. Mario Lebrato, Debora Iglesias-Rodríguez, Richard A. Feely, Dana Greeley, Daniel O. B. Jones, Nadia Suarez-Bosche, Richard S. Lampitt, Joan E. Cartes, Darryl R. H. Green, Belinda Alker, Global contribution of echinoderms to the marine carbon cycle: a re-assessment of the oceanic CaCO3 budget and the benthic compartments, ESA Preprint doi: 10.1890/09-0553. MADIN, L. P., P. KREMER, P. H. WIEBE, J. E. PURCELL, E. H. HORGAN, AND E. A. NEMAZIE. 2006. Periodic swarms of the salp Salpa aspera in the slope water off the NE United States: Biovolume, vertical migration, grazing, and vertical flux. Deep-Sea Res I 53: 804–819. M. Lebrato and D. O. B. Jones, Mass deposition event of Pyrosoma atlanticum carcasses off Ivory Coast (West Africa). Limnol. Oceanogr., 54(4), 2009, 1197–1209 Polavina, J.J., E.A. Howell, and M Abecassis (2008), Ocean’s least productive waters are expanding, Geophys.Res.Lett., 35, L03618, doi:10.1029/2007GL031745.

Thanks for listening!

Q&A, Discussion

Philip W. Kithil, CEOAtmocean, Inc.Santa Fe, NM

[email protected]

505-310-2294

Seminar AbstractUsing Wave-Driven Upwelling Pumps to Enhance the Ocean's Absorption of CO2: Feasible or

FantasyGiven the further delay in meaningful emissions reductions and other uncertainties produced by

UNFCCC Copenhagen meeting, the need to act against rising atmospheric CO2 levels is even more critical. With atmospheric CO2 now at 390ppm and increasing by ~3-4ppm per year, we will be hard-pressed to stay below the 450ppm which is estimated to result in 2° C. warming. Moreover, a return to 350ppm (thought to be the highest level for a stable climate) can only be achieved by removing CO2 from the atmosphere. The practical approaches to do this in an expeditious manner fall to terrestrial biomass, or the oceans. Enhancing the ocean's role as a natural carbon sink could be accomplished by using wave kinetic energy to generate upwelling of nutrient-rich water, which in the presence of sunlight triggers photosynthesis and growth of phytoplankton, absorbing dissolved CO2 in the process. The increase in primary productivity would allow more atmospheric CO2 to dissolve into the upper ocean. This seminar will also address several mechanisms by which the absorbed CO2 is converted to organic and inorganic carbon which sinks to the mid ocean and seafloor. This presentation embodies a holistic perspective by explaining the economics and path to market, and setting in motion a plan which could remove one gigaton of carbon annually by 2019 and 4.5 gigatons annually by 2030. Finally, international governance and lifecycle issues will be addressed.