In a groundbreaking partnership aimed at tackling climate change, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has announced a collaboration with Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre to develop direct ocean capture (DOC) technology. This innovative method focuses on removing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from seawater, marking a significant step in the fight against ocean acidification and global warming.
The agreement was formalized with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Mitsubishi Electric and VTT on October 7, 2024. Both organizations are targeting nature-positive technologies, starting with DOC—a form of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) that could be crucial in mitigating the effects of rising CO2 levels in our oceans. Ocean acidification, driven by the absorption of atmospheric CO2, poses a significant threat to marine ecosystems and industries such as fishing, which rely on the health of these waters.
Mitsubishi Electric has long championed sustainability as a key part of its corporate mission. With an ambitious goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by March 2051, the company is now expanding its focus to include carbon capture and removal technologies. This partnership with VTT will accelerate the development of DOC, which could play a pivotal role in reversing the acidification process that is endangering marine life and global fisheries.
VTT, recognized as Northern Europe’s largest research institute, is well-positioned to bring its expertise in nature-positive solutions to the table. According to Antti Arasto, Vice President of VTT and leader of this initiative, the collaboration represents a major opportunity for groundbreaking innovation. “We are proud and humbled that Mitsubishi Electric has selected us as one of their cooperation partners,” Arasto stated, noting that this project could lead to “radical breakthroughs” in how CO2 is captured from the ocean.
The DOC technology being developed by the two organizations promises not only to capture CO2 but also to restore the health of marine ecosystems, addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Mitsubishi Electric’s Seiji Oguro, Vice President of the Sustainability Innovation Group, highlighted the significance of this collaboration, emphasizing the mutual benefits of the partnership with VTT. He expressed confidence that combining Mitsubishi Electric’s technological leadership with VTT’s research excellence will lead to tangible progress in the effort to achieve carbon neutrality and safeguard the world’s oceans.
As the development of this technology progresses, it could prove to be a vital tool in the broader global effort to combat climate change, contributing to a healthier, more sustainable planet.
