A historic milestone in the blue economy: North Sea Farm 1, located among wind turbines in the North Sea, has harvested its first commercial crop of macroalgae. The project demonstrates the potential of co-location between renewable energy and marine aquaculture.

North Sea Farm 1 has harvested its first macroalgae crop in the middle of an offshore wind farm in the North Sea. This pioneering project combines sustainable aquaculture with renewable energy production, making it the first commercial seaweed farm installed among wind turbines in Europe.

Located about 18 km off the coast of Scheveningen, in the Netherlands, within the Hollandse Kust Zuid wind farm, this initiative represents a new way of using maritime space efficiently, intelligently, and regeneratively.

Conceived in 2022, with cultivation beginning in October 2024, the project focuses on seaweed production as a multifunctional solution: food, natural fertilizer, a base for textiles and cosmetics, all without occupying agricultural land, consuming fresh water, or using artificial fertilizers.

The development of North Sea Farm 1 is being led by the North Sea Farmers organization, with support of around €2 million from Amazon’s  Right Now Climate Fund, part of a $100 million global initiative focused on climate and biodiversity projects.

The harvest covers an area of five hectares and used submerged nets measuring 50×3 meters, fixed to the seabed. The operation involved a specialized vessel that collected the algae between turbines, in a clear demonstration of harmonious coexistence between aquaculture and offshore energy infrastructure.

Throughout the process, scientific teams from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Deltares, and Silvestrum Climate Associates monitored the plantation’s progress through satellite monitoring, eDNA analysis, and marine samples, with the aim of assessing the environmental impact, carbon sequestration potential, and reproduction of marine biodiversity.

More than just a pilot experiment, North Sea Farm 1 aims to serve as a replicable model for the European blue economy, promoting more sustainable use of the ocean and exploring new ways to integrate food production, conservation, and clean energy into a single ecosystem.

This article was developed based on content published in Blue Economy News, Simply Blue Group, The Chemical Engineer e North Sea Farmers.