About the project
While drastically reducing carbon emissions remains the top priority, carbon removal will also play a crucial role in achieving a global net-zero strategy. Marine-based carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) has the potential to safely and responsibly sequester gigatons of atmospheric carbon dioxide, helping achieve global net-zero goals. However, for mCDR to succeed at climate-relevant scales, it requires scalable monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) solutions that are operationally robust, credible, and cost-effective.
SCALE MRV:
- Is a collaborative research project to test, demonstrate, and advance scalable MRV technology for mCDR
- Enhances the credibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency of MRV by integrating
- an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) with a winched vertical profiling sensor package
- leading-edge ocean and atmospheric sensing technology
- AI-driven data analysis
- advanced numerical modeling
- Helps enable the future of mCDR growth beyond pilot and regional test sites
- Advances the understanding and use of lower-cost commercial platforms and sensors to scale the sector
The challenge: Scaling MRV for mCDR
For mCDR to be viable at climate-relevant scales, robust, trusted, and scalable MRV solutions are essential.
Current MRV observations
- Rely on traditional ocean measurement processes and highly qualified personnel to operate and synthesize the data.
- Traditional methods are:
Building for tomorrow with key innovations
Scaling MRV for large scale removals of the future will require close integration between uncrewed platforms with more accessible ocean sensors, advanced data management, and trusted numerical models. Standard research-grade methods and measurements will need to evolve and adapt to achieve the observations and models of tomorrow.
Using a commercially available USV equipped with modular surface and vertically-profiling sensors to enable continuous, cost-effective, and adaptive ocean monitoring.
Combining trusted commercial off-the-shelf sensors with next-generation biogeochemical monitoring tools will inform the optimal compromise between lower quantity ‘gold standard’ sensing and higher quantity accessible measurement technology.
Utilizing machine learning to optimize ocean sampling strategies, fill observational gaps, and enhance MRV model accuracy.
Developing high-performance ocean physical and biogeochemical models to assess carbon uptake and sequestration efficacy and guide optimal observation strategies.
Using the USV and sensors in multiple locations, including coastal and open ocean settings to understand technology limitations, validate MRV methodologies, and partner with models to improve MRV scalability.
Research alignment: Transforming Climate Action (TCA)
The research of TCA Theme 2 ‘Ocean-based climate change mitigation’ includes substantial attention on mCDR pathways and MRV methodologies. Both TCA research and SCALE MRV will contribute data to the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS) and the exchange of data will add value to both research initiatives.
Powering innovation through partnerships
Collaboration between academia and industry is crucial for advancing ocean technology and accelerating the use of scalable MRV solutions.
OFI is proud to partner with industry leaders who provide valuable expertise, funding, and in-kind contributions to support research efforts, system integration, operational guidance, and data analysis for the SCALE MRV project:
Through these partnerships, we are advancing ocean-based climate solutions that can help achieve a sustainable and climate-resilient future.
University collaboration & open data: building trust
Collaboration with universities is essential for ensuring the credibility and accountability of mCDR efforts. Academic institutions provide independent expertise, rigorous scientific methods, and a commitment to transparency that help mitigate concerns about industry bias. By making all sensor data publicly available as open data through the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System (CIOOS), this project will uphold scientific integrity, allowing other researchers, policymakers, industry, and the public to assess findings for themselves. Furthermore, OFI’s partnerships with industry operate under our clear university-industry research partnership philosophy where we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of honesty, objectivity, and academic freedom. This commitment to openness strengthens trust, accelerates innovation, and ensures that mCDR solutions are evaluated based on evidence.
Connect with us
SCALE MRV research project team members would like to connect and collaborate with research and industry colleagues working towards the same goals. Please contact us to express interest in collaborating on this project as a researcher, sensor developer, mCDR supplier, or another relevant partner:
