KELP BLUE
XPRIZE TRACK
OCEAN
CDR PATHWAY(S)
Oceans - Microalgae cultivation
Land - Agricultural & grassland CDR
PHYSICAL PRODUCTS
Algae for Use, Soil/Soil Additives
FOUNDED
2020
GET IN TOUCH
Kelp Blue
Amsterdam, Netherlands
www.kelp.blue
Daniel Hooft
[email protected]
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Kelp Blue cultivates giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) off the coast of Namibia, New Zealand, and soon Alaska. Our offshore farms overcome scaling limits of sheltered water, whilst benefiting from local nutrient upwelling systems. The kelp grows on our innovative submerged structures, ultimately forming a canopy at the surface. The canopy biomass is trimmed and processed into sustainable products for agriculture and packaging. The remaining biomass sequesters carbon naturally, supports biodiversity and provides other ecological benefits.
CORE INNOVATION
Kelp Blue’s off-shore farming method unlocks large-scale kelp cultivation, supporting carbon sequestration at significant scale without intentionally sinking biomass. The submerged structures mimic natural forest growth, from which just the canopy is harvested. The remaining forest continues to provide ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration while structuring a marine habitat with enhanced biodiversity. The environmental benefit of the kelp does not end there. Products made from the harvested canopy help other industries to move away from environmentally damaging practices. For example, our cultivated seaweed biostimulant reduces the need for chemical fertilisers and pesticides and increases farmers’ ROI (in kg per hectare), and we are using alginates and fucoidan to create sustainable alternatives for the packaging and nutraceutical industries. This approach is unique in that it does not rely on carbon credits for financial support.
CO2 CAPTURE
Kelp, like land plants, draws down carbon through photosynthesis, converting dissolved CO2 and bicarbonic acid from surrounding waters into biomass and oxygen. This process impacts atmospheric stock carbon by allowing the ocean to absorb more of it, while countering ocean acidification. Kelp also absorbs naturally occurring nutrients from the water, thereby supporting nutrient cycling. The standing stock of the biomass, (the Net Primary Production (NPP)) can be considered a temporarily captured stock of CO2.
CO2 SEQUESTRATION
We harvest the canopy 4 times annually - trimming only a fraction of the annually produced biomass. The remaining biomass follows natural dispersal pathways in the ocean, as outlined by the work of, among others, Carlos Duarte. Around 90% of the carbon undergoes grazing, remineralization, or deposition in low-durability sites. The remaining ~10% will be exported to the deep sea and buried in the shelf, forming highly durable sequestration forms lasting well over 100 years.
CO-BENEFITS OR PRODUCTS
Kelp forests provide crucial ecological benefits to the marine environment. They serve as marine habitats, nurturing a diverse range of species by improving water quality and providing food to a dynamic and interconnected web of marine life. By absorbing carbon (in the form of carbonic acid) from surrounding waters, kelp regulates pH levels, counteracting ocean acidification while replenishing oxygen. Our kelp forests are nurseries and spawning grounds for fish and help replenish local fish stocks crucial to coastal economies. Kelp also aids in regulating nutrients, combating eutrophication, and providing shoreline protection from strong waves and storms. Furthermore, kelp-derived products offer sustainable alternatives across industries, including agriculture, packaging, nutraceuticals, and more.