Last week, the first phase of the North Sea Farm 1 seaweed project was successfully completed in Vattenfall and Allianz’ Hollandse Kust Zuid Offshore Wind Farm. The second phase will follow later this year.
North Sea Farm 1 is the world’s first commercial-scale seaweed farm. North Sea Farm 1 is a floating farm located between wind turbines where seaweed cultivation can be tested and improved. Scientific research will also be conducted on site into the potential of seaweed farms to capture carbon. By locating the farm in previously empty space between turbines, the project is able to expand seaweed cultivation in the otherwise heavily used North Sea. The project is to serve as a replicable commercial model and as such as a catalyst for offshore seaweed cultivation worldwide.
In phase 1, two state of the art Eco-anchors, 13m long piles with the top 2m covered with nature restoration substrate, were installed in a 2 day operation during a lucky spell of perfect weather. The second phase, seeding & deployment, will start mid October. Doggerland Offshore was contracted to execute the offshore operation. Other partners involved, among others, Hapo, Herman Sr, Dieseko, Geovisie, etc.
The project is led by North Sea Farmers and executed by a consortium of scientific researchers and partners from the seaweed industry. The consortium includes researchers from Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PLM), Deltares, and Silvestrum Climate Associates, seaweed extract manufacturer Algaia, project developer Simply Blue Group, and maritime contractors Van Oord and Doggerland Offshore. The project receives funding from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund. Source: North Sea Farmers Image: Menno Mulder
