Vattenfall is collaborating with Danish universities exploring how an offshore wind farm could simultaneously produce electricity and sustainable food while also contributing positively to biodiversity in the same area.
According to the Swedish developer, demand for food with a low climate footprint is increasing, and the oceans can be a resource here.
Vattenfall has made Scandinavia’s largest offshore wind farm, Danish Kriegers Flak, available for the Win@Sea project.
Specifically, blue mussels, sugar kelp, sea lettuce and dulse will be produced on lines at the offshore wind farm.
A number of monitoring and research activities will also take place.
Vattenfall marine biologist Matthieu Povidis-Delefosse said: “At Vattenfall, we want to produce fossil-free electricity without negatively affecting the environment and biodiversity.
“We are working towards our energy-producing assets, such as offshore wind turbines, contributing positively to biodiversity.
“That is why we are looking for synergies between fossil-free energy production and consideration for nature.”
Vattenfall has also undertaken to lead one of the project’s eight work streams.
This deals with safety and operational logistics, as well as coordinating knowledge and data exchange between the researchers and the team at Vattenfall in charge of the daily operation of the wind farm.
Povidis-Delefosse added: “Danish Kriegers Flak is a large and modern offshore wind farm from 2021, which attracts great international interest.
“We are now opening a whole new chapter as Kriegers Flak, through Win@Sea, creates new ways for sustainable food production such as algae and mussels while contributing positively towards biodiversity.”
Win@Sea is headed by Aarhus University and runs from 2023-26.
In addition to Vattenfall, the Technical University of Denmark, the University of Copenhagen, the Kattegatcenter and Kerteminde Seafarm are also participating in the project.
The project is partly funded by the Horizon Europe project: OLAMUR (Offshore Low-trophic Aquaculture in Multi-Use scenario Realisation).