SeaFree – turning emissions into revenue streams

SeaFree is a Danish innovation project aiming to convert nutrients and CO₂ from land-based shrimp and fish production to valuable seaweed.

The SeaFree concept will make land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) more sustainable by adding seaweed production as sewage treatment and at the same time producing an attractive seaweed resource.

• Seaweed growing in nutrient rich effluent water from seafood production utilizes the nutrients for growth.
• CO2 produced by the seafood is used in seaweed photosynthesis increasing seaweed production and nutrient capture.
  
  

Photosynthesis: CO₂ + H₂O + nutrients + light → seaweed + O₂ seaweed + O2

• Heat emission from seafood production in RAS is used for zero energy drying of seaweed.
• Fresh and dried seaweed is used for novel high-value seaweed end-products like food and health products.
• Food supplements targeting prevention of diabetes and obesity will be developed and clinically tested.
• Innovative seaweed food products and everyday meal recipes are developed and presented for various target groups including families and pupils, increasing consumer acceptance of seaweed foods.
• Sustainability and economic viability of the SeaFree Concept of emission free food will be addressed in a full multifaceted system analysis.
  
  

Seaweed Synergy Plug’N’Play solution

We need to create value by recycling our emissions. Not only due to resource scarcity, but also to create local circular regenerative bio-economies that restore the planetary boundaries and health.

SeaFree will transform emissions into revenue streams by developing a novel eco-industrial symbiosis, integrating an innovative seaweed production system – named the Seaweed Synergy Plug’N’Play solution – into existing land-based Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) producing both fresh and storage stable green seaweed and emission free fish and shrimps.

The SeaFree project moves the seafood sector into the era of regenerative circular economy enabling zero emission land-based seafood production. The innovative design of the Seaweed Synergy Plug’N’Play solution allows for Heat, CO2 and nutrient Emission Capture and Utilisation (HECU) into seaweed production, expanding RAS into Integrated Multitrophic Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (IMRAS).

The SeaFree project is lead by Professor Marianne Thomsen from Copenhagen University and partly funded by Innovation Fund Denmark.