Aqitec

Aqitec is a small, family-run engineering consultancy established in 2015. Our team consists of the three founding members, each bringing a strong technical background to the table. Over the years, we have developed expertise in offshore structures, offshore aquaculture, water management, renewable energy, and advanced monitoring. We are actively involved at every stage of a project —from the earliest ideas through detailed planning, engineering, construction, feasibility studies, certification, and beyond. Our approach is proactive, combining technical knowledge with project management. We ensure that each project receives dedicated attention and practical expertise.

ECO anchors

Two prototype eco-anchors have been installed at sea. Aqitec is proud to be part of this development; modelling, design and engineering. This is a significant step towards nature-inclusive offshore seaweed cultivation. Many congratulations to everyone involved for this fantastic achievement.

More information can be found here .

Photo credits: Jurriaan Brobbel and North Sea Farmers.

Azifarm

Aqitec installed a special buoy on the North Sea. The Azifarm. This is a floating and lightweight structure for cultivation of seaweed. The system is easy and safe to deploy. In order to minimize the need to go out to sea, the buoy is equipped with GPS, sensors, cameras and telemetry. Hence there is always a good view on the condition of the Azifarm and the seaweed. The first six-metre high waves have passed by, and this free test – thanks North Sea! – has produced beautiful images and data.

Why are we doing this? We would like to use our knowledge to demonstrate new technology and gain a better understanding of the possibilities for sustainable offshore seaweed cultivation. Why is this important? Sustainably cultivated seaweed has great potential as an alternative to land-based crops. New technology is needed to safely and affordably farm seaweed at sea.

With thanks to Proeftuin op de Noordzee, North Sea Farmers and the Duurzaamheidsfabriek.

European Sea Station Buoy

We have developed a concept called the European Sea Station Buoy (ESS Buoy). Our goal is to create an integrated platform that stays state-of-the-art for decades to come. We have created a roadmap to keep up with the latest developments in the field of monitoring, energy generation and transmission. The project is part of the Dutch governmental vision for presence at and surveillance of the North Sea.

To efficiently and safely use the sea while facilitating many activities as part of the energy transition, we envision a robust digital infrastructure. In addition to using existing infrastructure and new fixed platforms, deploying buoys will result in full and flexible presence.

The primary functions of the ESS Buoy are: 1) monitoring of activity at sea, environmental conditions, and ecology; and 2) connectivity, which includes sending real-time data and providing network functions. The ESS Buoy will be equipped with autonomous power generation. The platform can accommodate many possible monitoring set-ups.

Recommended design practice

We specialize in engineering offshore cultivation systems for seaweed aquaculture, covering anchoring, installation, seeding, monitoring, and harvesting. Our integrated approach prioritizes safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Through involvement in multiple pilot projects, we identified a need for clear, specific guidelines on designing and implementing offshore aquaculture farms. In collaboration with industry partners and research institutes, Aqitec has developed a recommended design practice—a comprehensive document offering robust recommendations and guidelines to support the development of large-scale commercial farms.

The document can be found here.

AMMON

The AMMON project - Autonomous Monitoring for Multi-use On the North Sea - is a collaborative initiative undertaken by a consortium consisting of North Sea Farmers, Lobster Robotics, Oceans of Energy, Agora Solutions, Water Insight and Aqitec. The project is supported by a grant from Kansen voor West. The objective of this endeavour is to pioneer innovative methods for monitoring offshore multi-use sites. Aqitec, within the consortium, will concentrate on the creation of a comprehensive risk model and the implementation of best-practice integrated condition monitoring specifically tailored for floating offshore structures.

UTOPIA

Aqitec is involved in the UTOPIA project. UTOPIA is a user-friendly software framework for smart agriculture – a farming method that has the potential of increasing the yield per square meter by means of automated agricultural machinery providing the crops with the precise treatment that they need. The aim of UTOPIA is to make smart agriculture more accessible, affordable and user-friendly.

UTOPIA is part of the ERA-NET Cofund ICT-AGRI-FOOD and has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 862665 ICT-AGRI-FOOD.

The project is a collaboration between five partners:

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