Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) Technologies for Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR)

In-person workshop in collaboration with the Ocean Climate Solutions Summit and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society.

Thursday, 19 October, Hyatt Regency Boston-Cambridge, Cambridge, MA, USA, 8 AM – 5 PM EDT

Downloadable Workshop Report (PDF, 2 MB)

Moderators

Maike Luiken, PhD, SMIEEE, IEEE-HKN, FEIC, chairs Planet Positive 2030 – an initiative of the IEEE Standards Association – as well as the P7800 Standards Working Group: Recommended Practice for Addressing Sustainability, Environmental Stewardship and Climate Change Challenges in Professional Practice. She served as the IEEE VP, Member & Geographic Activities, 2021, as President of IEEE Canada during 2018-19 and, 2018, as Chair, Policy Track, IEEE Internet Initiative. Maike is and has been for more than 15 years a very strong supporter of sustainable development. She is a managing director, R&D, at a start-up company and Adjunct Research Professor, Western University, Canada. Previously, in Sarnia, Canada, she led the Bluewater Sustainability Initiative, 2006 – 2013.

Professor Wei-Jen Lee received the B.S. and M.S. degrees from National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan., and the Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas, Arlington, in 1978, 1980, and 1985, respectively, all in Electrical Engineering.

In 1986, he joined the University of Texas at Arlington, where he is currently a professor of the Electrical Engineering Department and the director of the Energy Systems Research Center. He has been involved in the revision of IEEE Std. 141, 339, 551, 739, and 1584, and the development of 1584.1, 1584.2, 3002.8, and 3002.9. He is the past President of the IEEE Industry Application Society (IAS), the chair of IEEE TAB (Technical Activity Board) Climate Change Program, co-chair of IEEE Sustainable Development Ad Hoc Committee, member of IEEE Ad Hoc Committee to Coordinate IEEE’s Response to Climate Change (CCIRCC), member of IEEE TAB Hall of Honor Committee, member of Pillar 4 of the Global Power Systems Transformation (G-PST), chair of IEEE Smart Grid program, chair of IEEE Smart Cities Education Committee, member of IEEE Smart Grid Operation and Education Committees, and member of United Nations (UN) Council of Engineers for the Energy Transition (CEET).

Christopher Whitt (M.Eng., PE, SMIEEE) – Irving Shipbuilding, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and President, IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society

Keynote Speakers

These distinguished participants will present overviews on the following topics:

• Christopher Whitt of Irving Shipbuilding: Welcome and Objectives of the Workshop
• Craig Mclean of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: on Policy and Social Implications of Carbon Removal
• Nikhil Neelakantan of Ocean Visions: on Existing Technology Roadmaps
• Mike Kelland of Planetary Technologies: on Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Pathways
• Matthew Eisaman of Yale University and Ebb Carbon: on Electrochemical Pathways
• Sophie Chuof Captura on Direct Ocean Capture Technologies
• Brad Rochlin of Running Tide on Nature-Based Capture Pathways
• Simon Freeman of ARPA-E on an Overview of MRV Technologies

Abstract

Oceans have a critical role to play in mitigating anthropogenic climate change. Not only are they the site of active biological carbon cycles, but they offer a vast surface area as an alternative to land for capturing and removing dispersed carbon from the atmosphere, and ultimately, for restoring sustainability in Earth’s ecosystems. However, working in oceanic environments is extremely challenging, and this industry is immature. Robust, cost-effective technologies for scaling and monitoring ocean-based facilities, for quantifying intended and unintended environmental impacts, for measuring the efficacy and permanence of the sequestration of carbon, and for modelling and predicting climate-relevant effects, are needed.

In this workshop, we aim to bring together oceanographers, environmentalists, technologists and data scientists to share knowledge, and:

1. Receive a comprehensive overview of the role of ocean-based solutions for the climate crisis;
2. Explore the status of various mCDR technology pathways with respect to measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) feasibility;
3. Describe existing gaps between current MRV technologies, progress needed, and new ideas to implement mCDR reliably and at scale;

The outcome of this workshop will be summarized in a report on new IEEE Sustainability Technologies Roadmaps. A virtual workshop will be scheduled shortly thereafter to invite broader participation and build on the momentum of ideas generated. Working groups will be formed to carry-on the technology roadmapping mission of the IEEE SusTech Initiative.

To prepare for this workshop, we recommend becoming familiar with the Ocean Vision’s mCDR Roadmap.

Workshop Information

The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Boston-Cambridge, 575 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Room reservations: +1 617-492-1234.

Your free workshop registration includes breakfast, AM and PM coffee breaks, and lunch catered in the meeting room. Discounted $15 self-parking is also available upon request.

Meeting time is 8 AM to 5 PM EDT in Charles View Meeting Room (16th Floor), with the breakfast buffet starting at 7:30 AM.