- Amazon invests in a new 10-hectare algae farm set in the middle of an offshore wind farm
- The idea is to use algae as a new CO2 capture tool
- Amazon has promised to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
It’s a very promising project. Amazon has just formalized its participation in North Sea Farm 1 which is launched off the Dutch coast in the North Sea. It will be a 10-hectare seaweed farm that will grow 6,000 kg of fresh seaweed from spring 2024.
This initiative takes place in the middle of an offshore wind farm. This launch is being managed in partnership with Plymouth Marine Laboratory researchers, Algaia seaweed extract manufacturers and maritime contractors Van Oord.
Algae, a chance for the climate
Amazon is investing 1.5 million euros in this project through its global Right Now Climate Fund. But by the way, why is this seaweed farm of such interest in the fight against climate change?
Concretely, algae could play a major role in carbon capture. Amazon estimates that if their culture were deployed in all the space occupied by offshore wind farms, or 1 million hectares in 2040, millions of tons of carbon could be reduced per year. And the benefits don’t stop there. Indeed, they provide habitats for marine life, which contribute effectively to strengthening marine biodiversity.
The tech giant also points out that algae have undeniable nutritional benefits and that their cultivation can be done quite naturally without using pesticides or fertilizers. Seaweed cultivation also represents an unsuspected source of employment. 85,000 jobs could be created if algae farms were launched in offshore wind farms by 2040.
All of this makes Zak Watts, EU sustainability director at Amazon, say: “Algae could be an essential tool for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but they are currently cultivated on a relatively small scale in Europe. We are delighted to fund this project to help us achieve a better understanding of their ability to help fight climate change. »
Amazon’s small steps for the climate
As a reminder, Amazon has set itself the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040. To put words into action, the e-commerce giant has notably placed an order for 100,000 electric vehicles with the company Rivian and relies on renewable energy in its logistics centers.
