2 minute read
Locking away Carbon Dioxide through Kelp
An exciting new project off the coast of Lüderitz has the potential to reverse some of the damage done through emissions of greenhouse gasses and create some much-needed jobs in the little harbour town.
The effects of global warming have started to rear their ugly head across the world. They range from higher temperatures, increased fire threats and severe droughts to more, intense storms. In Namibia, a drought-prone country, a changing climate can greatly affect not only ecosystems but also peoples livelihoods.
Kelp Blue is a company that believes the answer lies in growing and managing large-scale Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) forests to safely lock away vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the oceans forever. Kelp forests provide food and shelter for a great array of marine species. This helps to sustain a healthy marine ecosystem by increasing fish stocks and diversity. Furthermore, Kelp Blue wants to ensure the success and lasting impact of this project through the creation of an in-house value chain that also includes harvesting, processing and sales and marketing.
Why Lüderitz?
Lüderitz is the highest ranking in the world in terms of nutrients and temperature stability. This is due to the Benguela Current’s upwelling cell in the 50-60 nautical miles north and south of the town. The company intends to grow the kelp on arrays that float 15 metres under the surface of the ocean some 5-10 kilometres offshore. Consistent nutrient upwelling means constant growth of the kelp. The harvested kelp produces organic ingredients for bio-packaging, animal feed supplements, agriculture, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals and textiles.
Kelp is one of the fastest-growing organisms on the planet. It can grow up to 60 cm in a day and to a total length of up to 40 meters high. Photosynthesis fuels this rapid growth. As this process removes CO 2 from the atmosphere it is converted and stored in the various parts of the plant. Kelp continuously releases miniscule particles of organic material, called dissolved organic carbon, which is either consumed by microbes or transported out to sea where it sinks to the ocean floor. Larger parts of kelp that become detached also find their way to the bottom of the ocean, and the CO 2 is essentially trapped there because it is unlikely to be disturbed and has very little human contact.
Apart from being beneficial to the environment as well as creating employment, kelp production is also a sustainable process with a very low eco-footprint. Kelp grows naturally in the ocean, is self-sufficient, requires no pesticides or fertilisers and no non-biodegradable waste is produced. Furthermore, it requires no arable land or freshwater.
With all licensing and permits approved, Kelp Blue is awaiting materials currently being shipped to Namibia and aims to start the array set up in the ocean during the next two to three months. Full growth of plants is expected within 7-14 months, depending on how quickly the small plants adapt and start their growth spurt. The pilot programme is expected to produce a few hundred tons of fresh kelp per year by the end of 2022. In the commercial phase, the aim is to produce hundreds of thousands of tons per year.
The pilot project aims to employ around 15-20 Namibians, but once full commercial production is underway within the next ten or so years, up to 400 jobs should be available.
