An American startup is testing the robotic kelp farm concept

12.9.2017

California-based startup Marine BioEnergy will soon start testing the “kelp elevator” prototype to verify the concept of kelp farms in the open ocean. It's possible to produce biocrude from kelp. Biocrude can be further converted to gasoline or jet fuel.

Kelp doesn't usually grow in the open ocean because it needs both abundant sunshine and nutrients. Coastal areas are ideal for kelp growth; however, it isn't possible to grow kelp there in the large quantities necessary for significant biocrude production.

Marine BioEnergy has come up with a revolutionary process called depth cycling which gives kelp access to both nutrients in the depths, and light near the surface. In 2015, Marine BioEnergy obtained a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to verify the functionality of the new concept.

If the kelp elevator prototype works well, Marine BioEnergy plans to grow twine-seeded kelp in saltwater nurseries on the coast. After reaching a certain length, the kelp will be tied up to a floating farm and pulled out to the open ocean.

Submarine drones will then pull the whole farm up and down to optimize kelp growth. At harvest time, the drones will pull the farm to the nearest ship. There are technologies today to produce biocrude directly on the ships.

Even with electric cars developing fast, biocrude has a chance of succeeding as there are, for example, no plans to use electricity for plane drives in the near future. Plastic materials can be produced from biocrude in a similar way as oil.

-tk-