Project Sea Swell

Unlocking the Blue Economy

Funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and supported by David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, our region has set a clear target: to become England's first carbon-negative region by 2040. We are moving decisively to make this a reality.

To achieve this, we must look to the sea. The marine environment off our coast is six times larger than the land it borders*. Beneath these high-energy waves, Project Sea Swell will unlock the potential to connect our land and sea by growing seaweed at a truly meaningful scale, then bringing that harvest ashore to help cut greenhouse gas emissions across our region.

By deploying our Kelpedo™ seaweed-growing system, we will actively absorb carbon and create vital marine habitat. The broader impact of this initiative, however, will lie in how we use the seaweed onshore to decarbonise land-based industries. In collaboration with the Biorenewables Development Centre, we will trial natural agricultural biostimulants to replace carbon-intensive mineral fertilisers. Alongside this scientific work, we will develop products that directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our region's agricultural and food sectors. Together, we will connect the abundance of the North Sea directly to our activities on land.

*Based on the North Marine Plan Area.

The Mission: Connecting Land and Sea

Our region faces overwhelming demands for housing, sustainable energy, and agriculture. To find the space we require, we must look beyond the land to the untapped potential of the sea.

Securely anchored in this high-energy environment, our Kelpedo™ system will provide the platform for growing seaweed at scale. Out on the North Sea, our marine crew will oversee our maritime operations, ensuring the robust engineering of our sites, while our science team will carry out the scientific monitoring to determine the optimal moment for harvest.

Project SeaSwell will harness the power of the sun and the natural nutrients of the sea to grow seaweed along the Yorkshire Coast. As it grows, the seaweed will actively absorb carbon and release much-needed oxygen. At the same time, this operation will construct a thriving habitat, supporting the marine food web and promoting vital biodiversity.

The Yorkshire Low Carbon Seaweed Hub

Project SeaSwell will position North Yorkshire to use our coastal water to support direct, nature-based solutions to climate change.

The initiative will establish the regional capacity required to support our long-term climate ambitions. Operating from Scarborough, the Yorkshire Low Carbon Seaweed Hub will serve as the operational centre of our onshore strategy. The Hub will scale our ability to manufacture and assemble Kelpedo™ units while providing the facilities needed to process our sustainable marine biomass.

By establishing this foundation for growth, we will create skilled, green maritime jobs and forge a resilient, local supply chain that will anchor the future of the Blue Economy here in Yorkshire.

The Science & The Partnership

To meet our region's climate targets and create jobs and growth in the low-carbon economy, York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority established the Carbon Negative Challenge Fund. Project SeaSwell is our direct, co-funded response to that call, combining public investment with SeaGrown's own resources to deliver a scalable solution.

Our marine science team, led by Senior Scientific Officer Dr Hong Chin Ng, will conduct the vital environmental monitoring of our offshore sites. By gathering systematic data on our growing biomass, our scientists will ensure that our seaweed is actively absorbing carbon, driving nutrient uptake, and creating a stable habitat for marine life.

Once our Marine Crew delivers the harvest to Scarborough Harbour, our onshore partnership network will take over to drive regional decarbonisation.

Our partners at the Biorenewables Development Centre will lead development and growth trials to optimise the extraction of key bioactive compounds. They will transform this marine biomass into natural agricultural biostimulants designed to reduce the region's reliance on carbon-intensive mineral fertilisers. Concurrently, we will develop products that directly reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our region's agricultural and food sectors. By actively leveraging this harvest onshore, we will bridge the depth of offshore engineering directly to the resilience of land-based agricultural systems.

Habitat & Biodiversity

Our mission extends far beyond carbon reduction alone; we will construct a vital sanctuary beneath the waves. Securely anchored in the high-energy swell, our Kelpedo™ marine recovery system will create a thriving underwater forest where the engineering exists entirely to support the biology.

As these structures grow, they will enhance the marine food web along the Yorkshire coast. This environment will support a complex ecosystem of over a hundred marine species, from the smallest invertebrates seeking shelter within the sheltering canopy of the fronds, to the dolphins and porpoises frequently enjoyed by visitors to the Scarborough coast. By letting the light and the current move through this thriving biomass, our collective effort will build Trees in the Sea™.

Education & Outreach

Building on the legacy of our previous engagement work, such as the Wild Eye project which successfully connected the community with the marine environment through local events, the Yorkshire Low Carbon Seaweed Hub will serve as a centre for practical education.

We will build regional capability. The Hub will provide a dedicated platform to share our offshore and marine science activities directly with the public, demonstrating the tangible reality of the Blue Economy in action.

The Wild Eye Project

Future Investment in the Region

Supported by the Carbon Negative Challenge Fund, alongside a significant direct investment from SeaGrown, this initiative will firmly position North Yorkshire as a national leader in sustainable maritime innovation.

This funding is dedicated to building our capacity to provide direct, long-term integration to onshore agriculture. By connecting the natural resources of the sea to the economic resilience of the land, we will ensure that the long-term financial and environmental opportunities of the Blue Economy directly benefit our coastal communities.