Lead institution:
Flexens Oy Ab – Finland
This project aims to tackle the problem of “anoxia”, which is the complete lack of oxygen in the marine environment, in the Baltic Sea by injecting oxygen into the sea via adapted, existing technology. To do so, the project is preparing a pilot scale demonstration in the Baltic Sea and the exploration of scientific and technical questions required prior to conceptualisation at a large scale.
Internal phosphorus loading in the Baltic Sea Proper and the Gulf of Finland is caused by strong anoxia below the halocline. External nutrient loading has decreased and is now surpassed by internal loading caused by a legacy of past nutrient loads. As green hydrogen production increases, deep injection of the electrolysis by-product oxygen below the halocline as a sea-based measure can become feasible to manage internal nutrient reserves in the Baltic Sea Proper. It can eliminate anoxia and suppress internal phosphorus loading with three principal environmental impacts: the restoration of aerobic benthic habitat, the sharp reduction of the phosphorus transport from deep to surface water driving algae blooms, and the suppression of the internal phosphorus loading and algae growth cycle causing persistent anoxia.
Start date: 01/10/2023
End date: 31/10/2024
Lead Contact: Szilvia Haide (szilvia.haide@flexens.com)