Singapore’s national water agency, PUB, is collaborating with UCLA’s Institute for Carbon Management and climate tech start-up Equatic to build the world’s largest ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (OCDR) plant. Located at Tuas Water Reclamation Plant, this facility—called Equatic‑1—is expected to be operational by late 2024, scaling to full capacity in early 2025.
This milestone aligns with Singapore’s long-term sustainability goals and solidifies its position as a pioneer in environmental innovation. It’s the first country to pilot such large-scale ocean carbon capture technology, highlighting its ability to lead both technologically and ethically in the climate space.
How Equatic‑1 Works: Ocean Chemistry Meets Innovation
The Equatic‑1 system operates through electrolysis of seawater, where the water is split into acidic and alkaline streams. As carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and ocean water dissolves into this solution, it reacts with minerals to form stable calcium and magnesium carbonates. These are stored long-term, ensuring the captured carbon stays locked away for over 10,000 years.
This process is also highly efficient. The same operation generates nearly 300 kilograms of carbon-negative hydrogen per day, offering clean energy potential while simultaneously supporting decarbonisation efforts. This hydrogen can be used in transportation, manufacturing, or electricity production—providing both environmental and economic returns.
Built for Scalable Impact
The facility begins with a single electrolyser module during its demonstration phase, which can remove approximately one tonne of CO₂ per day. By 2025, the plant will expand to include ten such modules, scaling its daily carbon removal capacity to ten tonnes. This modular setup is a key feature, enabling easy expansion and replication globally.
In future phases, Equatic and its partners plan to expand the system to remove up to 110,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. Such scalability ensures that this pioneering effort in Singapore could serve as a blueprint for other nations to follow, contributing to global emissions reduction at gigaton levels.
Supporting Singapore’s Climate Strategy
Equatic‑1 plays a crucial role in Singapore’s broader environmental framework, complementing PUB’s aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. The plant’s integration into an existing water facility further enhances sustainability by aligning with the country’s “Replace‑Reduce‑Remove” approach to carbon management.
Beyond carbon capture, the project showcases how smart use of infrastructure can serve dual purposes—enhancing water resilience while also enabling emissions control. By turning seawater into a climate asset, Singapore continues to innovate in areas where environmental stewardship and national progress intersect.
Innovation Meets Global Collaboration
This project is the result of deep scientific partnerships and cross-border cooperation. With core research conducted at UCLA and Singapore’s experience in water innovation, Equatic‑1 represents the power of joint expertise. It also reflects a shared commitment to advancing scalable climate solutions in Asia and beyond.
Furthermore, Equatic has already partnered with companies like Boeing for carbon credit purchasing agreements, and aims to launch a commercial-scale plant by 2026. This commercialisation of OCDR technology demonstrates that climate impact and commercial viability can go hand in hand when driven by innovation.
