In a recently published article by cluster member SINTEF, we get great insight into how seaweed cultivation can become an important climate measure. The solution does not require advanced technologies for storing the CO2 that is bound, but can be as efficient as Langskip.
The obvious benefit of seaweed cultivation is the capture and removal of CO2, but the possibilities does not end there. In addition, seaweed can be used to produce biochar. Biochar can be used to store carbon stably underground, but biochar also has the ability to bind nitrogen in soil and can therefor be used to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture.
Last but not least, seaweed can also be used in animal feed, and will thus be able to affect methane emissions from cattle, which today contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions in the same order of magnitude as greenhouse gas emissions from the global transport sector.
“Now is the time to realize the potential that lies in this climate-positive solution: Large-scale facilities for seaweed cultivation at sea”, SINTEF states in their article.
Calculation models developed at SINTEF Ocean show that there are good growth conditions for kelp along the Norwegian coast. These conditions are particularly good in open sea areas on and off the Norwegian continental shelf.
“Large-scale seaweed cultivation at sea can be an important contribution on the way to a net zero-emission society, at the same time as this can provide value creation and several positive climate and environmental effects” Jorunn Skjermo, Senior Researcher at SINTEF says as she rounds off the article.
We are very eager to see what’s to come.
Read the full article here