North Sea Farm 1, situated within the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm about 18 kilometers off Scheveningen, has completed its first commercial seaweed harvest. The project, managed by the non-profit North Sea Farmers and supported by €2 million from Amazon’s Right Now Climate Fund, covers five hectares and uses four underwater nets (each 50 m by 3 m) to cultivate seaweed between wind turbines.
The harvested seaweed is expected to supply industries ranging from food and cosmetics to textiles and wellness. Beyond commercial value, the initiative serves as a research hub, with scientists from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Deltares, and Silvestrum Climate Associates studying carbon absorption, biodiversity, and seabed health. The project could demonstrate how combining seaweed cultivation with offshore wind farms creates both climate benefits and sustainable economic opportunities. More