Tackling the technological, environmental, legal, and economic challenges of ocean alkalinity enhancement: A case study from the Baltic sea.

Authors

Anu Lähteenmäki-Uutela, Jáchym Judl, Jari Silander, Sonja Lavikko, Tuukka Mäkelä, Carolin Regina Löscher, Ulf Riebesell, Markus Latvala, Kristian Spilling

Published in

iScience. Volume 29. Issue 8. Pages 116928. Aug 21, 2026. Epub Jul 30, 2026.

Abstract

Ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE) is a possible climate mitigation technology that can remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. Here, we studied the feasibility of OAE in a case study using serpentinite gangue and examined the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) potential, the legal requirements, and the economic viability. The carbon emission factor was estimated to stay below 70 kg CO₂e t^-1 CO₂ removed. Permitting would require the risks for marine ecosystems at the site to be carefully considered. Under the assumptions of this case study, OAE would require CDR credit prices higher than 100 € t^-1 CO₂ removed to be economically viable. Commitments of public and private actors to buy OAE credits would reduce market uncertainty and could be a way to promote OAE if the environmental impacts are acceptable.

PMID:
42571442
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 09 Aug 2026.

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