OX2 is to cooperate with a research station in the north of Åland, Finland, in order to develop and test methods to increase biodiversity in connection with the offshore wind projects that OX2 is developing around Åland.
Under the agreement, OX2 will work with the companies Under Ytan and Nemo Seafarms on the research station.
The companies develop commercial algae and seaweed farming combined with ecosystem services, such as fish habitat and growing mussels to reduce the effects of overfertilization in the sea.
Together with OX2 they will investigate how their operations can be combined with large scale offshore wind farms to improve the ecosystem and increase the biological diversity in the Baltic Sea.
Reef formations around the foundations and ‘fish hotels’ for cod are other areas that will be investigated.
OX2 Åland marine biologist Lotta Nummelin said: “The conclusions from the project will have a direct effect on the establishment of the Noatun wind farms, but also on the projects Halla, Laine and Tyrsky that OX2 is developing in the Gulf of Bothnia.
“We are looking forward to getting started with this exciting project where we will be testing and investigating how to create multi-functional ecosystems in combination with two growing industries, wind farms and growing seaweed”, added Magnus Hanstén, founder of Nemo Seafarms.
Besides the research and analysis the cooperation will arrange events around seaweed as food, and work on how to develop future tourist attractions around the farming and the offshore wind parks.