The eCommerce giant Amazon announced that it has donated 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) to a Dutch project that aims to explore the viability of growing seaweed commercially in the spaces between turbines of offshore wind farms. The project is being led by North Sea Farmers, a non-profit organization that will also investigate the potential of seaweed for carbon capture.
The Dutch government is planning to build 21 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2030, and has set aside hundreds of thousands of hectares of the Dutch North Sea for wind parks. As these areas will be closed for shipping, the spaces between the turbines will mostly be unused. This area will be used for this Seaweed farming in between wind turbines and other projects are exploring the feasibility of using floating solar panels in these spaces as well.
The funding provided by Amazon will be used to construct a 10-hectare seaweed farm as part of North Sea Farm 1. This project aims to jumpstart innovation in offshore seaweed growing and is expected to provide at least 6,000 kg of fresh seaweed annually. The investment will also help North Sea Farmers to improve their farming capacities.
Researchers will also investigate the potential of seaweed farms to remove carbon from the atmosphere by simulating the effects of large-scale seaweed farming. North Sea Farmers believes that these findings will contribute to the industry’s growth, as well as provide opportunities for job creation through seaweed growing and production.
