Iceland Marine Carbon Removal Pilot

Ocean-based carbon removal sounds promising: enhance ocean alkalinity, grow kelp forests, sink biochar to the seafloor, and sequester gigatons of CO2. But there’s a problem—we don’t fully understand the ecological consequences. What happens to marine life when you alter ocean chemistry? Do kelp farms compete with wild ecosystems? Does biochar sinking harm seafloor communities? And how do you verify carbon removal is actually happening and lasting?

Iceland’s North Atlantic waters are becoming a testing ground for answering these questions. The country has expertise in carbon capture (CarbFix has been injecting CO2 into basalt for years), strong marine research capacity, and a commitment to environmental stewardship. Now Iceland is investing in marine carbon removal pilots—but with rigorous environmental safeguards and monitoring requirements.

The Iceland Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate is offering ISK kr 420 million (roughly $3 million USD) per pilot to test ocean-based carbon removal approaches. This program funds field deployment, monitoring and verification, community and fisheries engagement, and open science that can inform global carbon removal governance. The goal is proving which marine carbon removal approaches work without harming ocean ecosystems.

For Iceland-registered companies or research consortia, this program provides grants linked to environmental monitoring and open science commitments. You’re not just removing carbon—you’re generating the data and knowledge needed to determine if marine carbon removal can scale responsibly.

What makes this program distinctive is its precautionary approach and open science requirement. You can’t just deploy technology and claim carbon credits—you must rigorously monitor environmental impacts, share data publicly, and engage fishing communities whose livelihoods depend on healthy oceans.

At a Glance

What This Funding Covers

The ISK kr 420 million supports comprehensive pilot testing:

Field Deployment (ISK kr 210 million): Testing marine carbon removal requires ocean infrastructure. This component funds sensors and monitoring equipment for ocean trials, research vessels and operational costs, deployment systems for alkalinity enhancement or biochar, and field staff conducting experiments. Robust datasets demonstrating environmental performance are essential for determining if approaches are viable.

Monitoring and Verification (ISK kr 105 million): You can’t just assume carbon removal is happening—you must measure it. This funding supports marine biodiversity surveys before, during, and after interventions, carbonate chemistry analysis tracking ocean chemistry changes, remote sensing monitoring larger-scale impacts, and independent verification meeting scientific and investor standards. Transparent reporting is non-negotiable.

Community and Fisheries Engagement (ISK kr 63 million): Iceland’s fishing communities depend on healthy oceans. This component funds consultations with fishers about potential impacts, participatory monitoring involving fishing vessels, compensation mechanisms if trials affect fishing grounds, and grievance redress processes. Social license from fishing communities is essential—projects that ignore fishers will face opposition.

Open Science and Policy (ISK kr 42 million): Iceland wants pilots to inform global governance. This funding supports data platforms making results publicly accessible, peer-reviewed publications in scientific journals, policy briefs for international climate negotiations, and participation in global carbon removal standards development. Knowledge sharing shapes how marine carbon removal is governed worldwide.

Beyond the direct funding, selected pilots get access to research vessels and marine labs for field experimentation, legal guidance on marine permitting and international carbon governance, carbon accounting mentorship aligned with ISO and Puro.earth methodologies, and investor roundtables with Nordic climate funds and corporate carbon credit buyers.

Who Should Apply

This program is for organizations ready to test marine carbon removal rigorously and transparently. You’re a good fit if:

You’re Iceland-Registered: The lead applicant must be an Iceland-registered company or research consortium. This includes startups, research institutions, or partnerships between these actors. International organizations can partner, but the lead must be Icelandic.

You’re Testing Specific Approaches: The program focuses on ocean alkalinity enhancement, kelp cultivation for carbon sequestration, and biochar sinking. Other marine carbon removal approaches may be considered if scientifically credible. Vague or unproven concepts aren’t eligible—you need specific, testable hypotheses.

You Have Environmental Safeguards: You need environmental impact assessments aligned with Icelandic ocean policies, independent scientific advisory boards overseeing experimentation, plans for long-term monitoring beyond the pilot period, and contingency actions if negative impacts are detected. Projects without robust environmental safeguards won’t be funded.

You’re Committed to Precautionary Principles: Marine ecosystems are complex and poorly understood. You need approaches that start small and scale cautiously, monitoring plans detecting early warning signs of harm, willingness to halt or modify interventions if problems emerge, and transparency about risks and uncertainties. Reckless deployment isn’t acceptable.

You’ll Share Data Openly: This isn’t proprietary research. You need commitment to open data and collaboration with global research networks, plans to publish in peer-reviewed journals, data platforms making results accessible to scientists and policymakers, and participation in international carbon removal governance discussions. Hoarding data undermines the program’s purpose.

You Have Carbon Accounting Expertise: Measuring marine carbon removal is complex. You need carbon accounting frameworks aligned with recognized standards (ISO, Puro.earth, etc.), expertise in measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV), uncertainty quantification acknowledging measurement limitations, and third-party verification partnerships. Sloppy carbon accounting destroys credibility.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

Demonstrate Understanding of Ecological Thresholds: The weakest applications ignore ecological risks. The strongest show deep understanding of potential impacts—literature reviews on ecosystem responses, modeling of ecological thresholds, identification of vulnerable species or habitats, and monitoring plans detecting impacts before they become severe. Ecological sophistication matters.

Build Independent Scientific Oversight: Don’t just monitor yourself. Establish independent scientific advisory boards with marine ecologists, oceanographers, and fisheries scientists who can provide objective oversight, challenge your assumptions, and ensure environmental protection. Independent oversight builds credibility.

Engage Fishing Communities Early and Meaningfully: Don’t wait until deployment to talk to fishers. Engage early—explain your plans, listen to concerns, incorporate local ecological knowledge, and design monitoring that addresses fisher priorities. Fishing communities who feel heard are more likely to support pilots; those who feel ignored will oppose them.

Plan for Long-Term Monitoring: Pilot funding covers 18-24 months, but ocean impacts may take years to emerge. Show how you’ll continue monitoring after the pilot—partnerships with research institutions, integration into ongoing ocean monitoring programs, or commitments from carbon credit buyers. Long-term monitoring demonstrates responsibility.

Align with Iceland’s Blue Economy Strategy: Iceland is developing a sustainable blue economy strategy. Show how your pilot contributes—job creation in marine technology, export potential for Icelandic expertise, alignment with sustainable fisheries goals, and contribution to Iceland’s climate commitments. Pilots supporting national priorities are more competitive.

Prepare for Null Results: Not all pilots will succeed, and that’s okay. Show willingness to publish null results if carbon removal doesn’t work or environmental impacts are unacceptable. Science advances through learning what doesn’t work. Pilots designed to generate learning regardless of outcomes are valuable.

Application Timeline

Pilots launch during summer field seasons with data shared ahead of COP31 climate negotiations. Here’s a realistic timeline:

February 2025: Submit concept note including scientific rationale, proposed approach, preliminary environmental assessment, and team qualifications. This is a shorter document (10-15 pages) that gets initial feedback.

March-April 2025: If invited, develop detailed proposal including comprehensive environmental impact assessment, carbon accounting methodology, monitoring and verification plan, community engagement strategy, and data sharing commitments. This requires significant scientific and technical work.

April 2025: Submit full proposal by deadline with all required documentation.

May-June 2025: Secure permits from Icelandic authorities. Marine interventions require environmental permits—work with the Ministry to navigate approval processes.

June-July 2025: Prepare for field deployment including equipment procurement, vessel contracts, staff hiring, and community consultations.

August 2025: Launch ocean trials with real-time monitoring. Summer is optimal for North Atlantic field work—weather is better and daylight is long.

August 2025-October 2026: Conduct pilot with continuous monitoring, quarterly reporting to the Ministry, and adaptive management based on results.

November 2025: Share preliminary findings at international climate forums including COP31 and carbon removal conferences.

Final Report: Comprehensive final report including all data, environmental impact findings, carbon removal quantification, and policy recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can non-Icelandic organizations apply? The lead applicant must be Iceland-registered. However, Icelandic organizations can partner with international research institutions, technology providers, or carbon credit buyers.

What if our pilot shows negative environmental impacts? You must halt or modify the intervention and report findings transparently. The program values learning, including learning that certain approaches aren’t viable. Honest reporting of negative results is expected and respected.

How is carbon removal verified? Using recognized MRV methodologies (ISO 14064, Puro.earth, or equivalent) with third-party verification. You must quantify carbon removal with uncertainty ranges and demonstrate additionality (removal wouldn’t happen without the intervention).

Can we sell carbon credits from the pilot? Potentially, if carbon removal is verified and meets credit standards. However, the primary purpose is research and learning, not revenue generation. Any carbon credit sales must be transparent and aligned with high-integrity standards.

What about international waters? The program focuses on Icelandic territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. Interventions in international waters face different governance and aren’t covered by this program.

How much data must we share? All environmental monitoring data, carbon removal measurements, and key findings must be shared openly (while protecting legitimate commercial IP). The goal is advancing global knowledge, not creating proprietary datasets.

What if we need to extend the pilot? Extensions may be possible with justification, but aren’t guaranteed. Design your pilot to generate meaningful results within the funded period.

How to Apply

Ready to test marine carbon removal responsibly? Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Confirm your approach is eligible. Are you testing ocean alkalinity, kelp cultivation, biochar sinking, or a similarly credible approach? Is it scientifically sound?

Step 2: Assemble your team including marine scientists, carbon accounting experts, community engagement specialists, and independent advisors. Strong teams are multidisciplinary.

Step 3: Conduct preliminary environmental assessment. What are potential impacts? What monitoring is needed? What are ecological risks?

Step 4: Engage fishing communities. Meet with fishing associations, explain your plans, and listen to concerns. Build relationships before applying.

Step 5: Develop your carbon accounting methodology. How will you measure removal? What standards will you follow? Who will verify?

Step 6: Prepare concept note and submit by February deadline.

Step 7: If invited, develop full proposal with all required components: detailed environmental impact assessment, carbon accounting and MRV plan, monitoring and verification protocols, community engagement strategy, data sharing commitments, and scientific advisory board composition.

Step 8: Submit full proposal, secure permits, and prepare for field deployment.

Visit the official Iceland Marine Carbon Removal Pilot page for detailed guidelines and application materials: https://www.carbfix.com/

Questions about eligibility, environmental requirements, or carbon accounting? Contact the Iceland Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Climate—contact information is available on their website.

Marine carbon removal might help address climate change—but only if done responsibly, with rigorous monitoring and transparent science. If you’re ready to test approaches the right way, this program can help you generate the knowledge the world needs.