DOCC Workshop at the European Commission
DOCC Workshop at the European Commission
European Commission recently hosted its first workshop dedicated to Direct Ocean Carbon Capture and Storage (DOCCS) in Brussels, convening policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to inform the Commission’s decision-making on whether certification methodologies for DOCCS should be developed for potential integration into the Carbon Removals & Carbon Farming (CRCF) framework, and if so to help determine the appropriate certification requirements.
The workshop reflected on a newly released review prepared for the Commission by ICF, Cerulogy and Ecodiversity, exploring DOCCS as a viable pathway for permanent carbon removal under the CRCF. Discussions focused on the scientific basis, monitoring requirements, regulatory considerations, the practical realities of implementation and environmental assessment.
SeaO₂ was proud to contribute to this important discussion. Our CTO, Maarten Oudshoorn, was joined by our Head of Oceanography & MRV, Daan Reijnders, and CSO, Thijs Meijssen to share insights from our pilot operations. They presented key lessons learned including our approach to robust Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV), proactive community engagement and stakeholder dialogue, navigating permitting processes and regulatory frameworks, and embedding responsible deployment principles at the core of DOCC deployment.
We highlighted both our progress and the remaining gaps that must be addressed to scale DOCC responsibly in Europe. This includes continued investment in scientific validation, transparent environmental monitoring, and clear policy frameworks that provide certainty for innovators.
As Europe advances the CRCF, workshops like this are critical to ensuring that emerging removal pathways are grounded in rigorous science, environmental integrity, and operational experience.
SeaO₂ remains committed to working collaboratively with regulators, researchers, and industry partners to advance DOCCS as a credible and environmentaly responsible solution for durable carbon removal in Europe.
From left to right: Daan Reijnders (Head of MRV & Oceanography), Maarten Oudshoorn (CTO), and Thijs Meijssen (CSO) sharing insights on how early pilots build the technical understanding needed for responsible and informed deployment of DOCCS.
