Automation Concepts for Industrial-Scale Production of Seaweed

In order to industrialize macroalgal cultivation in Norway, new automated methods and solutions for seeding, deployment and harvesting need to be developed. Today's solutions are time and resource demanding, still yielding volumes nationally in the range of 100–200 tons per year in total (not including wild harvest), while the potential is in the megaton range. Standardization of equipment and automation can be one way to upscale production. Here we present results from a design study of a module-based solution for industrial cultivation, with specific solutions for spinning of thin seedling strings onto longlines, and a robotic module for interaction with the submerged farm at deployment and harvest. A reduced-scale physical prototype of the farm concept with the robot has been built for testing of deployment and harvesting techniques. The concept has been named SPOKe: Standardized Production of Kelp.publishedVersio

Automation Concepts for Industrial-Scale Production of Seaweed

In order to industrialize macroalgal cultivation in Norway, new automated methods and solutions for seeding, deployment and harvesting need to be developed. Today's solutions are time and resource demanding, still yielding volumes nationally in the range of 100–200 tons per year in total (not including wild harvest), while the potential is in the megaton range. Standardization of equipment and automation can be one way to upscale production. Here we present results from a design study of a module-based solution for industrial cultivation, with specific solutions for spinning of thin seedling strings onto longlines, and a robotic module for interaction with the submerged farm at deployment and harvest. A reduced-scale physical prototype of the farm concept with the robot has been built for testing of deployment and harvesting techniques. The concept has been named SPOKe: Standardized Production of Kelp.publishedVersio

Efficacy testing of novel antifouling systems for marine sensors

Marine sensors are widely employed tools for remotely providing a representation of their environment. The primary factor limiting measurement accuracy and deployment longevity is biofouling. For prevention, copper is the most widely applied biocide, often in form of adhesive copper tapes. However, for complex shapes these tapes are challenging to apply. Furthermore, sensor operating life frequently exceeds the antifouling protective period of the tape and the exchange of antifouling systems can be prohibitively time consuming and expensive. Alternative antifouling systems are needed to improve the cost-effectiveness of marine monitoring. This study tested a novel adhesive antifouling film based on copper cold spray technology in two concentrations (586 g m−2 and 306 g m−2) against a commercial copper tape (367 g m−2) and an uncoated control. After ten months of immersion, the lower concentration adhesive film performed equal to the commercial copper tape while achieving higher durability and better leaching control. In contrast, the antifouling performance of the high-concentration film was at times lower than that of the commercial copper tape, likely due to high embedment depth of copper particles. Customizable, cold spray metallised adhesive films may offer an advantage compared to ‘traditional’ tapes, including the potential to reduce copper emissions.publishedVersio

D5.4 State of the art - MACROSEA WP5

The objective of the MACROSEA project is to facilitate industrial scale cultivation of seaweed in Norway. To achieve efficient large scale cultivation, development of cultivation technology is an important component, and in Work Package 5 - Seed/ing, Deployment and Harvest Technology- the objective is to identify requirements and bottlenecks for industrial scale seedling production systems, and evaluate and develop concepts for deployment and harvest operations. In order to understand the limitations and potential of today's cultivation methods, an initial work has been undertaken to get an overview of the methods used by today's producers. The opinions of the producers on future challenges and bottlenecks have also been requested. This report summarizes the questions that were asked of the producers, and the answers received.publishedVersio

MACROSEA WP5 - D5.2 Proof of concept on seeding systems

This brief report documents the deliverable D5.2 Proof of concept on seeding systems from MACROSEA WP5. By seeding systems we mean the technology used to produce substrate with seedlings ready for deployment at sea. SINTEF Ocean has demonstrated a partly automated production line based on carrier rope with seeded twine for deployment.2018:00785 - MACROSEA WP5 - D5.2 Proof of concept on seeding systemsNorges ForskningsrådpublishedVersio

MACROSEA WP5 - D5.2 Proof of concept on seeding systems

This brief report documents the deliverable D5.2 Proof of concept on seeding systems from MACROSEA WP5. By seeding systems we mean the technology used to produce substrate with seedlings ready for deployment at sea. SINTEF Ocean has demonstrated a partly automated production line based on carrier rope with seeded twine for deployment.2018:00785 - MACROSEA WP5 - D5.2 Proof of concept on seeding systemsNorges ForskningsrådpublishedVersio

Efficacy testing of novel antifouling systems for marine sensors

Marine sensors are widely employed tools for remotely providing a representation of their environment. The primary factor limiting measurement accuracy and deployment longevity is biofouling. For prevention, copper is the most widely applied biocide, often in form of adhesive copper tapes. However, for complex shapes these tapes are challenging to apply. Furthermore, sensor operating life frequently exceeds the antifouling protective period of the tape and the exchange of antifouling systems can be prohibitively time consuming and expensive. Alternative antifouling systems are needed to improve the cost-effectiveness of marine monitoring. This study tested a novel adhesive antifouling film based on copper cold spray technology in two concentrations (586 g m−2 and 306 g m−2) against a commercial copper tape (367 g m−2) and an uncoated control. After ten months of immersion, the lower concentration adhesive film performed equal to the commercial copper tape while achieving higher durability and better leaching control. In contrast, the antifouling performance of the high-concentration film was at times lower than that of the commercial copper tape, likely due to high embedment depth of copper particles. Customizable, cold spray metallised adhesive films may offer an advantage compared to ‘traditional’ tapes, including the potential to reduce copper emissions

Flotasjon av lakselus

På bakgrunn av henvendelser fra næringsaktører kontaktet FHF SINTEF Fiskeri og havbruk for en innledende studie av hvorvidt flotasjon av frittsvømmende stadier av lakselus (luselarver) kan redusere sannsynligheten for at de slipper inn lakseanlegg. Målsetningen med prosjektet var å gjennomføre kvalitative studier og observasjoner av flotasjon av luselarver i laboratorieforsøk, altså å undersøke hvorvidt små luftbobler fester seg til luselarver og løfter dem mot overflaten ved hjelp av oppdrift. Forsøkene ble gjennomført i SINTEF Sealab's laboratorier, i en kolonnetank med tverrsnitt 29,5 x 29,5cm, 100cm høy. En keramisk diffusor og trykkluft ble benyttet til å generere mikroboblene. Speilreflekskamera med makroobjektiver ble benyttet til billedtaking. Det ble tatt mer enn 450 bilder med lus eller skall fra lus i synsfeltet til kamera, der flere av bildene inneholder mer enn en luselarve. Av disse observasjonene var det ingen bobler som festet seg til lus eller skall. Potensielt ville en fungerende metode for flotasjon av lakselus kunne bidra til å konsentrere luselarvene i de øverste deler av vannsøyla, og på den måten lede disse vekk fra laksen.FHFpublishedVersio

Effect of seeding methods and hatchery period on sea cultivation of Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae): a Norwegian case-study

To reach the goal of an industrialised macroalgae industry in Norway and other high-cost countries in the near future, a standardised seedling production method to improve quality control and predictability of cultivated biomass is essential. A total of 11 different treatments for seeding twine or rope with meiospores, gametophytes or juvenile sporophytes from the kelp Saccharina latissima were measured for growth (frond length, frond area, biomass yield and density) and protein content after 80 and 120 days at sea. Meiospore- and gametophyte-seeded twines were pre-cultivated in the hatchery for 14–42 days prior to deployment, while juvenile sporophytes of different ages were seeded on ropes directly on the day of deployment using a commercial binder to attach the seedlings. The results showed that seeding with meiospores pre-cultivated in the hatchery for 42 days (S42) before deployment gave significantly longer fronds (77.0 ± 6.7 cm) and a higher biomass yield (7.2 ± 0.1 kg m−1) at sea compared to other treatments. The poorest growth was measured for the direct-seeded sporophytes pre-cultivated in free-floating cultures for 35 days prior to deployment (D35; 34.4 ± 2.4 cm frond length and 1.6 ± 0.4 kg m−1). Image analysis was used to measure the coverage of the twine substrate before deployment, and a correlation was found between substrate coverage and frond length at sea, indicating that this can be used as a tool for quantity and quality control during the hatchery phase and before deployment. The protein content did not reveal any large differences between the treatments after 120 days of cultivation

Effect of seeding methods and hatchery period on sea cultivation of Saccharina latissima (Phaeophyceae): a Norwegian case-study

To reach the goal of an industrialised macroalgae industry in Norway and other high-cost countries in the near future, a standardised seedling production method to improve quality control and predictability of cultivated biomass is essential. A total of 11 different treatments for seeding twine or rope with meiospores, gametophytes or juvenile sporophytes from the kelp Saccharina latissima were measured for growth (frond length, frond area, biomass yield and density) and protein content after 80 and 120 days at sea. Meiospore- and gametophyte-seeded twines were pre-cultivated in the hatchery for 14–42 days prior to deployment, while juvenile sporophytes of different ages were seeded on ropes directly on the day of deployment using a commercial binder to attach the seedlings. The results showed that seeding with meiospores pre-cultivated in the hatchery for 42 days (S42) before deployment gave significantly longer fronds (77.0 ± 6.7 cm) and a higher biomass yield (7.2 ± 0.1 kg m−1) at sea compared to other treatments. The poorest growth was measured for the direct-seeded sporophytes pre-cultivated in free-floating cultures for 35 days prior to deployment (D35; 34.4 ± 2.4 cm frond length and 1.6 ± 0.4 kg m−1). Image analysis was used to measure the coverage of the twine substrate before deployment, and a correlation was found between substrate coverage and frond length at sea, indicating that this can be used as a tool for quantity and quality control during the hatchery phase and before deployment. The protein content did not reveal any large differences between the treatments after 120 days of cultivation