Isometric has certified the Direct Ocean Capture & Storage (DOCS) Protocol. This protocol outlines requirements and procedures for projects that use DOCS technologies to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Certification follows a comprehensive public consultation that included feedback from buyers, suppliers, and leading academics with expertise in marine geochemistry. Full details on the evolution of the protocol, and how Isometric addressed feedback from the consultation, are available in the changelog and public consultation summary.
The ocean is the largest carbon reservoir on the Earth's surface, storing around 50 times more carbon than the atmosphere. Through a natural process called equilibration, the ocean continuously absorbs carbon dioxide from the air. DOCS leverages this process to durably remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
In DOCS, seawater is drawn into a facility where electrical currents or chemicals are used to separate dissolved carbon dioxide from the water molecules. The decarbonized water is then returned to the ocean’s surface layer, where it absorbs more atmospheric carbon dioxide through equilibration—this is when carbon removal occurs. The carbon dioxide captured earlier in the process is then permanently stored.
DOCS has significant potential to scale, as it does not require large amounts of land, water, or mineral feedstocks, and harnesses the vast carbon storage capacity of the ocean. It can also help address ocean acidification, potentially benefiting local marine ecosystems.
This industry-first protocol takes a scientifically rigorous approach to monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). It utilizes Isometric's Air-Sea Carbon Dioxide Uptake Module, which combines on-site measurements with internationally recognized ocean models to quantify carbon dioxide drawdown from the atmosphere.
Suppliers issuing credits under this protocol are able to use a range of carbon storage modules, including Saline Aquifers, In-Situ Mineralization, Ex-Situ Mineralization, Carbonation in the Built Environment and Dissolved Inorganic Carbon in Oceans.
The protocol was developed in line with the Isometric Standard, through collaboration between Isometric’s in-house Science Team and reviewers from Isometric’s independent Science Network of more than 300 academic experts and practitioners.
Leading DOCS suppliers Captura, CarbonBlue, and SeaO₂ provided extensive feedback during development of the protocol and are the first signed up to issue credits under it.
Steve Oldham, CEO, Captura, said:
“Direct Ocean Capture has tremendous potential to deliver high-volume, low-cost carbon removal. By combining the precise measurability of engineered systems with the vast, natural scalability of the ocean, it offers a uniquely powerful solution. Now, with this first-of-its-kind MRV protocol, Isometric has established the scientific standards needed for third-party verification of carbon credits from Direct Ocean Capture with durable storage.
“At Captura, we’re proud to see our technology supported by a rigorous framework that gives buyers, investors, and policymakers the confidence to invest in this high-quality carbon removal pathway.”
Dan Deviri, CEO, CarbonBlue, said:
“Earth’s waters are the planet’s largest carbon sink, but rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are hindering their natural ability to regulate the climate. At CarbonBlue, we draw excess carbon dioxide out of water, restoring its capacity to absorb more from the atmosphere and enabling any water-utilising infrastructure to become a tool in the fight against climate change.
“We’re excited to welcome Isometric’s Protocol for Direct Ocean Capture and Storage, an important step forward for scientific rigor and transparency in this pathway. This protocol will help ensure buyer confidence in DOCS credits and strengthen its position as a pivotal solution for scaling carbon removal.”
Ruben Brands, Founder & CEO of SeaO₂, said:
“Direct Ocean Capture is a highly promising approach to scaling carbon removal by leveraging our most powerful climate ally: the ocean. SeaO₂’s mission is to protect our planet from getting warmer by reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the ocean and, indirectly, in the air, while deacidifying our oceans.
“We welcome the launch of Isometric’s Direct Ocean Capture and Storage Protocol. A transparent, science-led framework is essential to scaling DOCS responsibly and ensuring the ocean remains one of our greatest allies in the fight against climate change."
