Since the very beginning, I’ve been deeply concerned about the twin challenges of climate change and ocean acidification. These are two of the most pressing environmental issues of our time, and I knew I wanted to create a solution that could address both. That drive led me to the development of a technology that stores carbon dioxide as calcium bicarbonate in seawater—a process inspired by nature itself. Essentially, we’re replicating what’s known as the geological carbon cycle. In this natural process, CO2 reacts with calcium carbonate, forming a solution of calcium bicarbonate, which is then stored in the ocean.
What makes our approach unique is its dual impact. Not only does it remove CO2 from the atmosphere, but it also increases the alkalinity of the seawater where we inject the calcium bicarbonate. This increased alkalinity helps to locally combat ocean acidification—a secondary but equally critical aspect of climate change. In essence, our technology combines carbon removal with direct benefits to the marine environment, creating a holistic solution. Our work in this space has culminated in the world’s largest ocean alkalinity enhancement pilot plant, located in Italy. This industrial-scale facility represents a significant step forward, establishing us as leaders in the sector and showcasing the potential of ocean-based solutions to make a global impact.
One of the key challenges in carbon removal is the issue of trust. When you’re dealing with something as intangible as removing and storing carbon in the ocean, it’s critical to provide stakeholders with measurable and verifiable proof. That’s where MRV—monitoring, reporting, and verification—comes in. These three words form the backbone of our credibility and the trust we’ve earned from investors, partners, and customers.
Ocean-based carbon removal presents a unique difficulty: how do you measure precisely how much carbon has been removed and stored? At Limenet, we’ve developed a robust solution using industrial sensors to track the transformation of CO2 into calcium bicarbonate in real-time. These sensors continuously collect data, enabling us to measure exactly how much carbon is sequestered. The data is then shared with third-party evaluators who verify the results using established methodologies and protocols.
This verified data is used to issue carbon credits, which are a quantified representation of the CO2 removed. These credits act as proof of our work and allow our customers to offset their emissions with confidence. By ensuring accuracy and transparency in this process, we’re not just removing carbon; we’re creating a reliable framework that incentivizes further action in the fight against climate change.
Our mission is to tackle two critical environmental challenges—climate change and ocean acidification—through innovative technology that delivers high-quality carbon credits and restores marine ecosystems. Our solution produces negative-emission carbon credits, representing CO2 that has been permanently removed from the atmosphere and stored in the ocean as calcium bicarbonate for over a thousand years. This ensures the carbon does not return to the atmosphere, providing an unparalleled level of durability and reliability. These credits are especially valuable to companies striving for net-zero emissions by 2030, 2040, or 2050, many of which follow frameworks like the Science-Based Targets initiative. While reducing emissions is essential, addressing unavoidable, hard-to-abate emissions is equally critical, and our technology offers the necessary tools to achieve true carbon neutrality. Beyond carbon removal, our approach increases the alkalinity of seawater, directly countering ocean acidification and fostering healthier conditions for marine ecosystems. By creating a more alkaline environment, we support marine species that are currently suffering from the impacts of acidification, enhancing biodiversity and overall ocean health. Though the scale of the problem is vast—requiring hundreds of millions of tons of alkalinity to be added to the ocean—our work, alongside a small but dedicated group of companies in this field, represents a vital step toward addressing these intertwined global crises.
Engaging Communities and Scaling Up for a Global Impact
At Limenet, we focus on engaging stakeholders on two key levels: national and local. On a broader scale, we work closely with NGOs—both Italian environmental organizations and international groups focused on carbon dioxide removal—to share insights and highlight the potential of our business case in Italy. This collaboration helps us demonstrate the transformative power of our technology in addressing climate challenges, particularly through ocean-based solutions. Locally, our efforts are centered around our pilot plant in Sicily, specifically in Augusta, a city in southern Italy that has long been home to one of the country’s largest petrochemical industrial sites. We’ve partnered with institutional stakeholders, including government authorities and regulatory bodies, to obtain the necessary permits and showcase the benefits of transitioning from traditional polluting industries to innovative, sustainable ones.
Equally important is our engagement with the local community. We collaborate with environmental associations, youth groups, and schools to raise awareness and inspire the next generation to embrace climate-focused innovation. By involving residents in our mission, we demonstrate that their region, once defined by heavy industry, can now lead in creating a greener, healthier future. A prime example is our Augusta plant, launched in the summer of 2024, where we’re piloting the removal of CO2 at scale while proving to Italian regulators—and the world—that high-quality carbon removal is achievable. This project not only paves the way for further expansion across Sicily but also serves as a model for global adoption, reinforcing that sustainable industry can thrive in areas previously dominated by polluters.
Our roadmap includes scaling up operations and pushing the boundaries of ocean-based carbon removal technologies. We aim to conduct extensive research to quantify the impact of ocean alkalinity enhancement, particularly in mitigating ocean acidification. Proving these benefits will allow us to engage governments and institutions in adopting these solutions as part of their national climate strategies. By building partnerships with governments, we envision a new business model—business-to-government (B2G)—that leverages our technology to safeguard seawater ecosystems, which are vital for the future of all nations. With these steps, LimeNet is poised to become a global leader in high-quality carbon removal and ocean restoration, paving the way for meaningful climate action.
