The seaweed Sargassum is causing problems in Caribbean waters. Damen and Maris Projects have entered into a partnership that seeks to harvest the weed and turn it into methane. Damen will develop a special MultiCat for this purpose.
A significant – and to date, inexplicable – rise in the quantity of Sargassum in Caribbean waters and along its shores, has been recorded in recent years. The weed is causing considerable problems in the region. Aside from the stench it gives off when decomposing, which has led to beach closures, the seaweed also clogs the engines and nets of fishing vessels. Additionally it is also smothering sea grasses and coral reefs as well as releasing greenhouse gases as it decomposes.
Circular Solution
Damen Green Solutions director Marcel Karsijns explains: ‘Currently, the solutions to the Sargassum challenge only go as far as removing the weed from the sea. Often it is brought onto land and left to decompose, where it gives off damaging greenhouse emissions. What we are attempting to do is develop a holistic, circular solution that turns a negative into a positive. As well as offering clean energy, the aim of the project is also to deliver sustainable benefit to local economies.’
The work carried out by Damen and Maris Projects is expected to greatly increase knowledge of bioprocessing, leading to the design of efficient and scalable technologies with the capability to deliver both environmental and socio-economic benefits.
From Sargassum to Methane
As said Damen will develop a MultiCat. Maris brings experience in scalable preprocessing and anaerobic conversion technology. The idea is to turn Sargassum into biogas via a two-step process using low temperature anaerobic digestion as the first step. The residues of this process will then be fed into a high temperature anaerobic thermal reactor to turn them into usable methane.
Consortium
A local operating partner – CMC – that can harvest the seaweed in Martinique and Guadeloupe, has also been selected. Currently, the partners are discussing a contract that will create the consortium to be known as Blue Caribbean Energy Solutions.
As well as the short term aim of turning Sargassum into energy, the partnership will consider the economic viability of turning the harvest into fertiliser and/or feedstock for the agriculture industry.
