SeaO₂ to Issue Carbon Removal Credits Under Isometric’s Direct Ocean Capture & Storage (DOCS) Protocol
We’re excited to share that Isometric has officially certified the Direct Ocean Capture & Storage (DOCS) Protocol, marking a major milestone for marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR), and that SeaO₂ is among the first companies signed up to issue credits under this new protocol.
The protocol defines a rigorous, science-based framework for projects that remove and permanently store carbon dioxide (CO₂) using Direct Ocean Capture (DOC) such as our technology. Certification follows a comprehensive public consultation involving buyers, suppliers, and leading marine scientists, setting a new benchmark for transparency and scientific integrity in ocean-based carbon removal.
The ocean is Earth’s largest carbon reservoir, holding around 40 times more carbon than the atmosphere. Through a natural process known as equilibration, it continuously absorbs CO₂ from the air. DOCS builds on this process: SeaO₂ develops technology to directly remove CO₂ from seawater using electrochemistry. The decarbonized water is then returned to the surface, where it naturally reabsorbs atmospheric CO₂–this is when carbon removal occurs. The captured CO₂ is subsequently permanently stored, by either concrete mineralization or geological storage.
The DOCS protocol sets an industry-first standard for the Monitoring, Reporting & Verification (MRV) for DOCS, specifying combined roles for direct measurements and ocean modeling to quantify CO₂ drawdown from the atmosphere. To this end, the DOCS protocol includes Isometric's Air-Sea CO₂ Uptake Module, which applies more commonly to different mCDR pathways.
Developed under the Isometric Standard, the protocol was co-created with input from Isometric’s Science Team and its independent Science Network of over 300 academic experts and practitioners. SeaO₂, alongside Captura and CarbonBlue, provided key feedback throughout the development process.
“Direct Ocean Capture is a highly promising approach to scaling carbon removal by leveraging our most powerful climate ally: the ocean,” said Ruben Brands, Founder & CEO of SeaO₂. "We welcome the launch of Isometric’s Direct Ocean Capture and Storage Protocol. A transparent, science-led framework is essential to scaling DOCS responsibly and ensuring the ocean remains one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change.”
We’re proud that the SeaO₂ MRV team (Dr. Daan Reijnders and Gerianne Terlouw), together with our DOC peers, contributed to its development. As one of the first project developers signed up to issue carbon removal credits under the certified DOCS Protocol, SeaO₂ reaffirms its commitment to transparency, scientific integrity, and responsible ocean-based carbon removal.
We’re grateful to Isometric for leading this important effort and to our peers across the mCDR community for their collaboration in setting this new benchmark!
Want to Learn More?:
🌊SeaO₂’s Official LinkedIn Post
📢Isometric’s Official LinkedIn Post
📣Isometric’s Official Anncouncement
We’re thrilled to collaborate with Isometric and look forward to working with their incredible team to ensure durable, high-quality CDR for buyers. 🌊
