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Carbon Capture & Sequestration

Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in the Coastal and Marine Environment refers to a broad set of activities designed to capture and store carbon dioxide (CO2). Traditionally, CCS focuses on capturing emissions from industrial activities, power plants, or natural processes and storing them in geological formations beneath the seafloor. Attention is also turning to natural carbon sequestration provided by coastal ecosystems, notably seagrasses, mangroves, saltmarshes, and other coastal wetlands which act as powerful and long-term carbon sinks known as “blue carbon” systems. These habitats capture and store CO2 through natural biological and sedimentary processes, offering a complementary, nature-based solution to engineered CCS methods.
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Environmental considerations for both engineered and nature-based CCS activities include careful site selection and evaluation, regulatory and permitting compliance, and environmental and social impact assessments to identify potential effects and necessary mitigation measures. International frameworks, such as the London Protocol, provide guidance on the responsible conduct of CCS in marine environments.

CSA Ocean Sciences Inc. (CSA) supports the advancement of both engineered and natural CCS through its expertise in marine environmental assessment, baseline studies, permitting and habitat restoration. CSA’s multidisciplinary teams integrate marine geoscience, ecology, and regulatory compliance to help clients identify optimal CCS sites, evaluate potential environmental impacts, obtain permits, and develop robust monitoring and management plans. CSA applies its experience in seagrass, mangrove, and coastal wetland mapping, restoration, and carbon accounting to design and implement blue carbon projects that enhance ecosystem productivity while contributing to carbon sequestration goals. By bridging science, engineering, and policy, CSA helps clients deliver effective, environmentally responsible CCS solutions in coastal and marine environments.

Navigating New Frontiers with Ocean Science

CSA’s expertise in marine science and operations enable our team to address the key elements in international guidance for CCS.

  • Risk Assessment and Management – Requiring CCS project designs undergo thorough risk assessments, particularly regarding storage site characteristics, prevention of leaks, and response to incidents are key components of the design, development, and implementation of CCS projects.
  • Monitoring and Verification – As with all projects in the coastal and marine environment, monitoring is a crucial component. Monitoring and response to potential escape of carbon dioxide from subsea storage sites are challenges both technically and operationally that can be addressed with both traditional and innovative techniques.
  • Regulatory Frameworks – Governments are encouraged to develop clear, transparent regulatory systems for permitting, monitoring, and decommissioning of CCS sites. Understanding and addressing regulatory requirements of CCS projects is essential to project permitting and approval.
  • Public Engagement and Awareness – International guidance emphasizes the importance of public education and awareness of CCS technology. Public engagement is a key component of Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.
  • Environmental Protection – Regulatory frameworks and international best practices for prevention, mitigation, incident response, and restoration in coastal and marine environments are valid for CCS projects owing to the potential for carbon dioxide to escape from the storage site into the surrounding environment.

CSA’s scientists and operations specialists are actively engaged in the design, development, permitting, and operation of CCS activities in coastal and marine environments. Our role in CCS is consistent with our services to offshore energy clients and projects, including environmental baseline studies and impact assessments. Read a summary of CSA’s recent project for Gigablue in the Eastern Mediterranean, and stay tuned for updates on new projects and technical capabilities in this emerging field.

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