Located in the heart of the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm, 18 kilometers off the Dutch coast, North Sea Farm 1 has achieved its first commercial-scale algae harvest. This pioneering facility, developed by the non-profit organization North Sea Farmers, is strategically situated between marine turbines and has been funded with 2 million euros by Amazon’s Right Now climate fund.
Seaweed harvesting in the middle of energy infrastructure
The integrated cultivation model takes advantage of the space between turbines to establish underwater networks of algae cultivation. In this first harvest, a specialized vessel carefully navigated between four 50 x 3 meter structures anchored to the seabed. The cultivation area covers five hectares and marks a firm step towards the sustainable use of marine space.
Harvested algae have potential applications in sectors such as food, cosmetics and textiles. Thanks to their rapid growth without the need for fresh water, soil or fertilizers, they represent a viable alternative to resource-intensive crops. In addition, their ability to capture dissolved carbon makes them a key tool for climate change mitigation strategies.
Since 2024, institutions such as Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Deltares and Silvestrum Climate Associates have been monitoring the evolution of this pilot farm. Using satellite data, water sampling and environmental DNA analysis (eDNA), the teams are investigating the crop’s potential to enhance marine biodiversity and store carbon over the long term. This approach aims to establish solid evidence for scaling up such climate solutions.
Amazon and its commitment to nature-based solutions
Amazon’s Right Now fund participation, part of a $100 million commitment to a $100 million commitmentreinforces the intention to support projects with a positive environmental impact. For Amazon and its partners, this harvest, in addition to validating the technical concept, opens the door to a new dimension of industrial sustainability: marine crops cohabiting with existing energy infrastructures.
With this first harvest, North Sea Farm 1 consolidates its position as a reference in ocean innovation, demonstrating that it is possible to produce marine biomass at scale, without competing with land use or altering key maritime routes.
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Source and photo: North Sea Farmers
