Ocean & Human

Last the United Nations’ World Oceans Day, kicking off a global initiative to call on world leaders to protect 30% of oceans by 2030. Innovation for sustainable oceans is a key theme this year, which is why it is so timely to be talking about cleantech in this arena. Cleantech Group (CTG) recently  discussed this topic (and other Nature-Based Solutions), in detail with innovators, corporates and investors…

Dredging giants DEME and Jan De Nul, together with Tractebel, have introduced SEAVOLT© – a new offshore floating photovoltaic (PV) technology.

SEAVOLT technology (patent pending) can withstand harsh offshore conditions while creating large surfaces that are protected from the waves.

The modular design allows for easy adaptation to different sites and demands. Benefits include local renewable energy production and the possibility to install the panels in offshore wind farms (where local authorities permit multi-use concessions)…

DEME and joint venture partner Jan De Nul Group will design and construct the island in the Belgian North Sea for transmission system operator Elia.
BELGIUM — The Belgian consortium TM EDISON, including DEME and Jan De Nul, has won the tender for the construction of the world’s first artificial energy island.
The construction of the foundations of the Princess Elisabeth Island will begin in early 2024…

New information about an emerging technique that could track microplastics from space has been uncovered by researchers at the University of Michigan. It turns out that satellites are best at spotting soapy or oily residue, and microplastics appear to tag along with that residue…

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 14 is to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources.” To achieve this, we will need to create a new blue economy with sustainable start-up companies and innovations that can scale to solve the ocean’s grand challenges.

Here are 14 breakthrough innovations that are putting us on a path to healthy, valued, and understood oceans…

Proposing a giant floating continent, double the size of the Roman Colosseum, Pierpaolo Lazzarini returns with a new innovative, monumental terayacht concept. The Pangeos watercraft is an itinerant floating city, comprising various hotels, shopping centers, parks, ship and aircraft ports, and all other facilities needed to house up to 60,000 guests in the middle of the sea…

Jules Verne once wrote a science fiction novel called L’Île à hélice’ (Propeller Island) −also published as The Floating Island, or The Pearl of the Pacific− exploring the concept of floating, aquatic island cities. Key reason to think about this concept is the fact the Earth is mostly covered by water, and…

TNC’s Blue Bonds for Conservation model helps governments unlock funding for conservation—and could benefit millions of people in coastal regions…