Equatic, a startup based in San Diego, made a significant breakthrough in hydrogen production and carbon removal by developing an oxygen-selective anode that addresses the chlorine issue associated with seawater electrolysis. With funding from the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E, Equatic scaled its innovation from lab to factory in record time, showcasing promising results. The company's co-founders, Xin Chen and Gaurav Sant, proposed a hybrid system that not only produces hydrogen but also captures carbon dioxide from the air in the ocean. By exploiting the electrolytic reaction to separate seawater into acidic and alkaline streams, Equatic can efficiently remove carbon and enhance the ocean's natural carbon pump. The process, although more complex than traditional methods, offers greater control and precision in measuring carbon sequestered. Equatic's system also yields clean hydrogen, providing an additional revenue stream that offsets the carbon removal costs. The company's pilot projects in Los Angeles and Singapore demonstrated the effectiveness of their technology, albeit expensively due to material costs to manage chlorine gas. By overcoming the longstanding challenge of chlorine formation in seawater electrolysis through innovative materials science research, Equatic has made remarkable progress. Chen and Sant's dedication to finding a durable and cost-effective solution led to a design that significantly reduces chlorine levels and offers long-lasting performance. With support from ARPA-E and a strong focus on innovation, Equatic aims to revolutionize the hydrogen production and carbon removal landscape.