Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research

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Facilities

The centre consists of twenty cultivation tanks of 1500 liters each. Ten tanks are at NIOZ-Texel, ten at NIOZ-Yerseke. These tanks are specially designed for seaweed research. By means of aeration, turbulent conditions are created in the tanks, which keeps the seaweed in the tanks constantly moving.

Schematic representation
Schematic representation

How it works

Earth heat

The tanks are fully insulated and are heated / cooled using geothermal energy. This guarantees a minimal energy requirement of the Seaweed Centre.

Central pipe supply

Central pipe supply

Filtrated sea water (Marsdiep or Oosterschelde) and compressed air are supplied from a central pipe. Using lids, the light can be controlled in the tanks.

Biological seaweed filter

Biological seaweed filter

The water that comes out of the tanks is cleaned through a biological seaweed filter (3 large bins containing sea lettuce Ulva lactuca.