The world’s first commercial-scale seaweed farm within the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm in the Netherlands is fully operational.According to the non-profit organisation North Sea Farmers (NSF), the final deployment step was completed one week ago by deploying the seeded substrate.

North Sea Farm 1, initiated by NSF with funding from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, is a floating farm located in the open space between wind turbines where seaweed production can be tested and improved.

The seaweed farm is located within the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm, nearly 22 kilometres off the coast of Scheveningen. The 1.5 GW project is owned by Vattenfall, BASF, and Allianz.

In parallel, the scientific research aims to validate the carbon sequestration potential of seaweed farms and measure biodiversity impacts, said NSF.

For a realisation of this project, including research objectives, a consortium has been built that comprises Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Deltares, carbon sequestration advisors Silvestrum Climate Associates, seaweed extract manufacturer Algaia, project developer Simply Blue Group, and marine contractors Van Oord and Doogerland Offshore.