The Blue Growth Farm is an innovative automated, modular and environmentally friendly multi-functional platform design for open sea farm installations of the Blue Growth Industry. The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, and is presented by a consortium of 14 partners from 5 EU countries (RINA, Fincosit, SAFIER, The University of Strathclyde, The Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory – NOEL, SAGRO AQUACULTURE, Chlamys srl, SAMS, Wavenergy.it LTD, École Centrale de Nantes, Treelogic, TECNALIA, Politecnico di Milano, Ditrel Industrial S.L.).
Further expansion of aquaculture, both land-based and nearshore, is limited for a variety of reasons, such as economic, socio-political, environmental, technical and resource constraints. Moving offshore creates significant advantages and opportunities in meeting the global demand for food especially when the aquaculture system is combined with other activities such as renewable energy production.
This fully integrated and efficient offshore multipurpose floating platform will provide a central protected pool to host an automated aquaculture system, capable of producing high quality fish, as well as a large storage and deck areas to host a commercial 10 MW wind turbine and a number of wave energy converters (WEC). The platform will result from the suitable assembly of low-cost, corrosion-resistance, low-maintenance concrete caisson modules.
A suitable combination of aquaculture and offshore renewable energy production and the application of appropriate technical knowledge are key in achieving the sustainable exploitation of marine resources, in support of the growing global demand for seafood and energy from renewable sources.
The Blue Growth Farm project will allow to reduce costs of implementation and increase economic viability of multi-use platforms for the European maritime industry, to secure acceptance of these new developments by local communities and society-at-large and to improve the professional skills and competences of those working and being trained to work within the blue economy.
