• 200,000 tons of CO2 to be removed: Agreement spans four years, marking the largest marine-based carbon removal deal.
• Marine carbon fixation innovation: Gigablue’s ocean-based CDR technology leverages water, sunlight, and gravity for cost-effective carbon sequestration.
• Aviation’s net-zero strategy: SkiesFifty’s investment supports the aviation industry’s decarbonization goals amid a sustainable aviation fuel supply gap.

Gigablue, a leader in affordable carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, has signed a landmark agreement with SkiesFifty to remove 200,000 tons of CO2 over the next four years. This agreement builds on their existing July 2024 partnership and marks the aviation-focused company’s largest investment in marine-based carbon removal to date.

Technology’s Market Validation

“The agreement validates the scalability and effectiveness of our technology,” said Ori Shaashua, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Gigablue. “We are harnessing the basic building blocks of life on Earth—water and sunlight—to create a financially sustainable carbon removal solution.”

Gigablue’s method, known as marine carbon fixation and sequestration (MCFS), uses a proprietary nutrient substrate designed to optimize phytoplankton growth. Once matured, the system triggers a controlled sink, sending the carbon-rich substrate to the ocean floor for permanent storage. This process allows for cost-effective, scalable carbon removal.

Meeting Aviation’s Decarbonization Challenge

The aviation sector faces a widening gap between sustainable aviation fuel supply and growing demand, according to a McKinsey & Co. report. Carbon offsets are a key component of the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) decarbonization strategy. SkiesFifty’s investment in Gigablue aligns with its commitment to supporting solutions that meet net-zero targets.

“At SkiesFifty, we invest in the technologies that will make a difference to a carbon-neutral future for aviation,” said Simon Talling-Smith, Founding Partner at SkiesFifty. “Gigablue’s solution stood out due to its environmental safety, durability, and scalability.”

Scientific and Regulatory Backing

Gigablue’s monitoring, measurement, reporting, and verification (MMRV) framework has been validated by New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). This ensures measurable and reliable carbon sequestration results while preserving marine ecosystems.

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“Climate change is a crushingly urgent problem for society,” said Mike Williams, Chief Scientist of Oceans at NIWA. “The expertise and work we’re contributing support global action.”

The company’s oceanographic platform uses AI-powered analysis of geoinformation data to identify optimal deployment zones and predict substrate effectiveness. The SkiesFifty partnership places Gigablue at the forefront of the CDR market, supporting its ambitious goal of removing one gigaton of carbon dioxide by 2035.

This agreement underscores the aviation industry’s growing confidence in ocean-based carbon removal as a critical tool for reaching global net-zero goals. Both the U.S. and EU are developing regulatory frameworks to enhance the credibility and transparency of marine-based carbon offsets.

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