SUSTAINABILITY, ENERGY
Marine waste-to-energy platforms close the loop offshore
Floating systems turn trash and biomass into usable power
Northline Seafoods' floating processor. Photo by Casey Chandler / KDLG.
Marine waste is one of the most persistent challenges in the blue economy. In 2025, innovators are moving from cleanup to conversion — deploying floating platforms that transform plastics, debris, and seaweed into energy.
EU pilots floating litter-to-energy systems. The MAELSTROM project, funded under Horizon Europe, is testing offshore platforms that collect and sort marine debris, then convert it into energy and usable materials with renewable inputs.
Seaweed farms fuel bioenergy in Norway. SINTEF’s kelp pilot at Frøya, launched in January 2024, explores how macroalgae can be harvested at sea and processed into biofuels. The test proves marine biomass can serve dual roles: carbon sink and energy feedstock.
Funding calls support new marine platforms. The EU’s 2025 Ocean Mission work program allocated €120m to floating pilots that integrate waste recycling and waste-to-energy conversion offshore. These initiatives aim to scale demonstration projects into the North and Mediterranean Seas.
Waste valorization extends to seafood platforms. In Alaska, operators of the “Hannah” barge have begun recovering fish waste alongside processing catch. Trials show waste streams can be repurposed into oil and energy products, reducing landfill use and adding value offshore.
That’s not all: startups are testing mobile pyrolysis units on barges to turn plastic waste into fuel oil. Analysts predict marine waste-to-energy could scale fastest in regions struggling with both coastal pollution and rising energy demand.
—TFE
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