Gigablue secures £14.5M to scale marine carbon removal technology — full details
Ocean-climate startup Gigablue has raised £14.5 million (≈ $20 million) in fresh funding to accelerate deployment of its ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology — a system designed to pull CO₂ from the atmosphere and permanently store it deep in the sea.
About the company
- Founded: 2022
- Focus: Marine carbon removal (“blue carbon”)
- Goal: Gigaton-scale CO₂ removal to support global net-zero targets
- Approach: Combine biology, chemistry and AI-driven ocean modeling
Gigablue’s mission is to enhance the ocean’s natural carbon cycle using a method known as Microalgae Carbon Fixation and Sinking (MCFS). (ESG Today)
Funding details
- Amount: £14.5M (~$20M) Series A first close
- Lead investor: Planet Ocean Capital
- Use of funds: Scale commercial deployments and monitoring systems (ESG Today)
The investment reflects growing confidence that high-integrity carbon removal will be required alongside emission reductions to reach climate goals. (ESG Today)
How the technology works
Gigablue does not capture CO₂ with machines on land.
Instead, it enhances a natural ocean process called the biological carbon pump.
Step-by-step process
- The company deploys specially engineered mineral-nutrient particles into targeted ocean zones.
- Phytoplankton grow on the particles, absorbing dissolved CO₂ through photosynthesis.
- Once biomass accumulates, the particles sink — carrying carbon to the deep ocean for centuries-long storage. (ESG Today)
The system relies mainly on:
- sunlight
- seawater
- gravity (Gigablue)
Gigablue claims its method improves natural carbon sequestration efficiency by orders of magnitude and can store carbon for hundreds to thousands of years. (ESG Today)
Monitoring and verification
To prove the carbon is actually removed, the company uses a Measurement, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MMRV) framework including:
- environmental DNA sampling
- water chemistry analysis
- in-situ sensors
- deep-sea monitoring tools (ESG Today)
Commercial traction
Gigablue already has early buyers for carbon credits:
- Agreement to remove 200,000 tons of CO₂ over four years for aviation sustainability firm SkiesFifty (Gigablue)
The company aims to reach gigaton-scale removal by 2035. (GlobeNewswire)
Why investors are interested
Carbon removal is becoming essential because:
- emissions cuts alone won’t meet climate targets
- heavy industries (aviation, shipping, cement) need offsets
- oceans naturally store most of Earth’s carbon
Marine solutions could be cheaper and scalable compared to direct-air-capture plants.
Scientific debate & risks
Not all scientists are convinced yet:
- Limited public data on long-term effectiveness
- Concerns about ecosystem impacts
- Potential interference from marine life or bacteria (AP News)
This reflects a wider debate around ocean geo-engineering technologies.
What this means
If successful:
Gigablue could unlock one of the lowest-cost large-scale carbon removal pathways.
If not:
It highlights the risk of relying on carbon credits before full scientific validation.
Bottom line
The £14.5M funding round positions Gigablue among the fast-growing “blue carbon” startups attempting to make the oceans a major climate solution. The technology shows strong commercial interest — but scientific scrutiny remains hig
Gigablue secures £14.5M to scale marine carbon removal technology — case studies and comments
Below are real-world examples, industry parallels, and expert reactions that help explain why Gigablue’s funding matters — and why it’s controversial.
Case studies
1) Aviation decarbonization — SkiesFifty carbon-credit purchase
Use case: Airlines can’t eliminate emissions fast enough with fuel alone, so they buy long-term carbon removal.
- Gigablue signed a deal to remove 200,000 tons of CO₂ over four years for aviation sustainability firm SkiesFifty (Gigablue)
- The method grows phytoplankton on special particles, then sinks the carbon to the deep ocean (Gigablue)
- Aviation views removal credits as necessary because sustainable aviation fuel supply is insufficient (Gigablue)
Why it matters
Airlines are among the hardest sectors to decarbonize. Gigablue becomes a “last-mile climate solution” — removing emissions that cannot be prevented.
Impact:
- Creates demand for marine carbon removal markets
- Helps aviation aim for net-zero by 2050
- Shows buyers are willing to pay before tech is fully proven
2) Corporate climate commitments — emerging carbon removal market
Gigablue isn’t alone. Major companies already fund ocean carbon removal:
| Company | Technology | Buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Ebb Carbon | Ocean alkalinity enhancement | Microsoft (The Guardian) |
| Equatic | Electrochemical ocean capture | Boeing (The Guardian) |
| Planetary Technologies | Ocean chemistry enhancement | Investors & industry (The Guardian) |
What this shows
Gigablue funding is part of a bigger shift:
Carbon removal becoming climate infrastructure, not just offsets.
3) Nature-based carbon removal at scale — biological pump mimicry
Gigablue’s technology copies the ocean’s natural carbon cycle:
- Uses Microalgae Carbon Fixation and Sinking (MCFS) (Ocean News & Technology)
- Stores carbon in deep ocean for hundreds to thousands of years (Gigablue)
- Uses AI to select deployment zones (Gigablue)
Comparable approach
Project Vesta spreads minerals on beaches to accelerate natural carbon absorption (Wikipedia)
Insight:
Climate tech is shifting from machines → enhancing natural Earth systems
Expert comments & industry reactions
Positive reactions — investors & climate sector
Why investors funded the company
- Massive scale potential
- Aiming for gigaton-level removal (Gigablue)
- Low-energy process
- Uses sunlight, water, and gravity (Gigablue)
- Needed for unavoidable emissions
- Energy, aviation, and AI infrastructure demand removal (Ocean News & Technology)
Translation:
The world likely cannot reach net-zero without carbon removal — so capital is rushing in early.
Scientific concerns — skepticism from researchers
Some ocean scientists warn the technology may not work as claimed:
- Algae may not grow effectively on particles (AP News)
- Particles could be eaten or degraded before sinking (AP News)
- Possible ecosystem impact similar to ocean fertilization (AP News)
- Lack of peer-reviewed public data (AP News)
Experts questioned whether enough carbon would actually be stored.
Key debate
Investors: speed matters
Scientists: proof matters
Regulatory & market tension
Carbon removal credits are currently ahead of regulation:
- Verification frameworks still developing (Ocean News & Technology)
- Private buyers determine success for now (AP News)
This makes Gigablue both:
- A climate breakthrough candidate
- A potential carbon-credit bubble risk
Big-picture interpretation
Gigablue represents a new category of climate startup:
| Traditional climate solutions | New climate solutions |
|---|---|
| Reduce emissions | Remove emissions |
| Energy efficiency | Planet-scale geoengineering |
| Proven technologies | Experimental but scalable |
The funding shows investors believe:
Future climate economy = carbon removal + energy transition
Final takeaway
Gigablue’s £14.5M raise is important not because the technology is proven —
but because buyers are already paying for the result.
- Companies need removal to meet climate targets
- Scientists still want proof
- Regulators are catching up
The company sits at the center of the biggest climate debate today:
Should we deploy fast or validate first?