Artur Simoes
Offshore cultivation of Seaweed
Job Title: Project Manager, Marine Operations
Employer: Seaweed Energy Solutions
Biography
Seaweed Energy Solutions (SES) Project Manager, Marine Operations. Simões has a National Higher Diploma in Civil Engineering (Witwatersrand Technikon, RSA) and over 20 years experience in the construction sector. He is specialized in project management including development of concept design, feasibility studies, execution and commissioning of projects.
Abstract
Bioenergy production utilizing the Earth’s vast oceans offers tremendous opportunity as a worldwide renewable energy resource. Current advanced and proven technologies in marine biology, offshore structures, aquaculture and biomass processing are bringing this promise ever closer to commercial reality. Offshore cultivation of seaweed can make a major contribution for coastal regions to meet their CO2 emission targets and to obtain a sustainable supply of biofuels and a wide range of co-products.
Seaweed cultivation has many other application areas in addition to its energy potential. Seaweed farms can be implemented in proximity to intensive fish farming regions to remove excess nutrients and waste products from the fish farms (IMTA – Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture). Furthermore, as the offshore seaweed cultivation industry develops, we believe it will attract attention from many other existing industries interested in the biomass as a source for feed, fertilizer, chemicals, proteins and a wide range of petrochemical replacements.
Seaweed Energy Solutions (SES) is a leader in the emerging seaweed-to-biofuel cultivation industry with operations in Norway and Portugal. SES is focused on the development of large-scale offshore cultivation systems for seaweed and conversion of this biomass to biogas, bioethanol and other co-products. Further development with existing and new partners is expected to result in competitive offshore cultivation solutions.
