'Our blue economy is growing 2-3 times faster than the rest of Australia's GDP - effective management of the marine environment is needed to sustain this growth, and support communities and Traditional Custodians of Sea Country.'
Additionally, the once-in-a-decade report from CSIRO identifies the seven global megatrends that hold the key to the challenges and opportunities ahead, with 'adapting to climate change' and adoption of 'leaner, cleaner and greener' renewable energy solutions the top key priorities.
Our research in collaboration with industry and community aims to guide the introduction and adoption of these new and emerging industries to lead the charge to a clean energy future.
John, Blue Economy CRC
Welcome Angela Williamson
Angela Williamson recently joined the Blue Economy CRC as Director of Blue Policy & Planning.
She brings a passion for sustainable oceans development and a wealth of experiences in government, political and private sector gained over the past two decades.
Her experiences include marine spatial planning, oceans policy, ocean and fisheries focused international relations in the Asia Pacific region and the design and deliver ESG and sustainability work programs.
When asked what she was most looking forward to in her role at the BE CRC, Ange said
“Working with amazing people that share a vibrant vision for our oceans and are committed to make sure we get the policy, regulatory and R & D building blocks right so that together – industries, governments and communities – can have confidence in the pathways to sustainable ocean wealth and prosperity”.
Blue Economy CRC announced as Australian Delegation to the IEA OES
The Blue Economy CRC is pleased to confirm its role as the lead Australian Delegation to the International Energy Agency Ocean Energy Systems (IEA OES). Together with Christophe Gaudin (UWA) we will represent the Australian Executive Committee.
What is the OES?
The OES brings together countries to advance research, development and demonstration of conversion technologies to harness energy from all forms of ocean renewable resources, such as tides, waves, currents, temperature gradient (ocean thermal energy conversion and submarine geothermal energy) and salinity gradient for electricity generation, as well as for other uses, such as desalination, through international cooperation and information exchange.
The OES consists of 25 members with each country represented by contracting parties - those who are specialists from government departments, national energy agencies, research or scientific bodies and academia.
We would like to thank Mark Hemer (CSIRO) and Stephanie Thornton (AOEG) for your leadership and Tracey Pitman (CSIRO) for the coordination, support and carriage of the role over to the Blue Economy CRC.
Collaborating & learning & from our world-class partners
Chair Greg Johannes, CEO Dr John Whittington and Research Director, Prof Irene Penesis embarked on an International Participants Tour across the month of June to visit and learn from the work being undertaken by our international partners and their world-class aquaculture, offshore energy and engineering facilities.
Stops included the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS) and a visit to their Deepwater Ocean Basin, the Aquaculture Centre of Excellence (ACE®) Eco-Ark, Skretting's Aquaculture Innovation (AI) Lerang Research Station facility followed by attendance at the Aquavision Conference, highlighting new aquaculture technologies, navigating the future, sustainability and climate impact.
We would like to sincerely thank Skretting Australia for their generous invitation to join their major event, Aquavision in Stavanger.
Following was a visit to FishGLOBE in Norway - a unique, closed fish farming technology, CMB.Tech headquartered at Port of Antwerp Bruge - the front runner in the energy transition to become Europe’s most sustainable port.
Lastly before visiting Sintef and an onsite visit to their Ocean Basin - a total environmental simulation including wind, waves and current for testing of models in realistic conditions and Saitec in Bilbao, Spain to view their work on the DemoSATH - a joint floating wind project in an open sea test site in Basque Country.
The team would like to thank our Partners for hosting us and showcasing their world-class facilities and current activities.
The Blue Economy CRC hosted its 3rd Annual Participants Workshop in May in Hobart was a resounding success.
The event coincided with the 2022 Tasmanian Salmon Symposium and the Australian Ocean Energy Market Summit earlier in the week, followed by the two-day Workshop and on-site tours of Partners Tassal and Huon Aquaculture.
With the past two years wreaking havoc on International and National travel, it was fantastic to have our valued Partners together in the same room over the three days.
The event included collaboration in panel and theme discussions, keynote sessions, workshops and networking sessions, PhD presentations, onsite tours at both Huon and Tassal and impromptu project presentations from the students at Fahan School on their fish pen designs.
We are looking forward to the planning of the 2023 Participants Workshop with further details becoming available later in the year.
Trends, Challenges, and Future Perspectives for Floating Offshore Wind Turbine Development
Thursday 1 September 2022 4pm – 5pm (AEST)
Offshore wind turbines are getting bigger every year, a trend that already helps offshore wind reduce costs all over the world. Whilst recent research suggests that costs will continue to dip as wind turbines get bigger and are deployed further offshore, the challenges to the design of the floating platform that supports the wind turbine increase.
You are invited to this exciting and innovative webinar that aims to facilitate the community’s awareness and understanding of the general trends, challenges, and future perspectives for floating offshore wind turbine development.
The webinar will start with an overview of the history of floating wind turbines and current design developments in Europe. This will be followed by a review and analysis of scaling laws applied to the design of floating wind turbines. The webinar finishes with a presentation about recent R&D work that tackles the design and optimisation challenges for 10MW to 25MW floating wind turbines.
Presentation 1: Dr Erin Bachynski-Polić, Professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Erin will provide an overview of the history of floating wind turbines and current design developments in Europe as well as the Design and optimisation of 10MW to 25MW floating wind turbines, plus Q&A.
Presentation 2: Dr Nataliia Sergiienko, Lecturer at the University of Adelaide
Nataliia will provide a review and analysis of scaling laws applied to the design of floating wind turbines, plus Q&A.
Facilitated by: Dr Boyin Ding, Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide, and Deputy Director at the Australia-China Joint Research Centre of Offshore Wind and Wave Energy Harnessing.
Global seaweed production is worth >AU$10 billion annually yet Australia and New Zealand currently have very limited seaweed aquaculture, relying on wild harvest and imports to meet industry needs.
The development of an Australian seaweed industry can open up a sustainable, long-term and high-growth economic opportunity for Australia and New Zealand through improved ocean health, cultivation of a high-value domestic and export product, jobs creation and environmental benefits.
The current opportunity
Bull kelp (aka Durvillaea spp.) could hold one of the many keys to unlocking the blue economy and is a strong contender for offshore cultivation.
It has been identified as a potential key to an emerging Australian seaweed industry, due to its high alginate content (used in the food, pharmaceutical and medical industries) and unique biomechanical properties that allow it to absorb wave energy, making it suitable for offshore cultivation with the ability to dampen wave forces on or around offshore structures.
What this project aims to achieve
The basic biological information required for bull kelp cultivation, such as reproduction, early lifecycle development and hatchery methods remain unknown. Further research is required to understand its hatchery methods to enable the development of bull kelp cultivation plan.
This project aims to fill this knowledge gap to provide fundamental information needed develop a Bull Kelp aquaculture industry in both Australia and New Zealand.
Measuring the Depositional Footprint of the Blue Economy
Work continues on characterising the environment and ecosystem in the
COVID restrictions in New Zealand continue to disrupt fieldwork on this project but the team have developed an effective approach to short-notice changes to plans and a pretty robust sense of humour!
In Bass Strait the initial characterisation of the environment and ecosystem of the Blue Economy Zone is nearing completion and the work plan for the next phase of monitoring the area is currently being developed, to begin late in 2022.
With the emerging concept of the cultural licence to operate, it is imperative to consider the rights, equity, and livelihood opportunities for First Nations Peoples.
Poor inclusion into economic agendas leads to a greater chance of First Nations People “losing out”– rather than gaining– from Blue growth and with this, the potential legal and cultural license challenges if their voices are not properly recognised and pragmatically given effect.
We sat down with Cass to discuss the project and the work she and her team will conduct on conceptualising the core factors driving cultural integrity and fairness principles for building the CLO rubrics in the marine industry sector.
The Blue Economy CRC is organising a Blue Economy Mini-Symposium within the OMAE2023 conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre from 11-16th June 2023. The call for papers is expected to open July 2022.
The planned symposium themes are:
Aquaculture Farm Infrastructure (e.g., fish pen designs, seaweed/kelp production systems, artificial reefs, mooring and anchoring systems, and aquaculture service vessels)
Multi-purpose Floating Platforms for Aquaculture Farms and Offshore Renewable Energy Systems (e.g., large integrated or co-located floating platforms, floating energy islands, and floating laboratories)
Offshore Technologies for aquaculture farms and offshore renewable energy systems (e.g. autonomous maritime systems, antibiofouling and net-cleaning solutions).
The Blue Economy CRC places heavy emphasis on Education & Training, with an unprecedented scale of research opportunities on offer, including fully funded Higher Degree by Research (HDR) PhD scholarships across its five research programs.
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