Marking a major milestone in the fight for ocean reoxygenation, the BOxHy (Baltic Sea Oxygenation and the Super-Green Hydrogen Economy) project has been included in the 2021-2030 Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. UN. This unique project is the result of a pioneering tripartite collaboration between Flexens, Lhyfe and the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences at Stockholm University. Each partner brings their expertise to advance this project.
BOxHy is positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to address the critical problem of anoxia in the Baltic Sea, a condition characterized by the complete absence of oxygen that threatens marine life and ecosystem health. Globally, oceans have been losing oxygen since the 1950s, primarily due to water pollution and global warming. This loss has a destructive impact on the ocean, its wildlife, and humans, as it affects the millions of jobs linked to coastal waters and the protein supply for more than 3 billion people.
The BOxHy project aims to restore aquatic vitality by adapting existing technologies to oxygenate the sea. It also explores the potential of coupling the sector with green hydrogen production, providing a sustainable model for environmental restoration and economic development. The main objective is to help solve the problem of anoxia in the Baltic Sea by injecting oxygen through offshore hydrogen production using water electrolysis, an existing technology and adapted.
The project, which started in October 2023, is coordinated by Flexens and supported by the Baltic Sea Action Plan Fund. By receiving the endorsement of the United Nations Ocean Decade, BOxHy validates its commitment to sustainable ocean governance and encourages global collaboration and innovation for ocean health. This recognition is an excellent opportunity to highlight the importance of the project and its alignment with the United Nations’ objectives for sustainable ocean management.
With the support of the UN Decade, BOxHy is poised to expand its engagement with stakeholders through active discussions within the Ocean Decade network and collaboration with other Decade partners. Achieving the long-term goal of mitigating Baltic Sea-wide anoxia requires international collaboration between the scientific community, the energy sector, policymakers, citizens, investors and others. actors. By taking a phased approach to implementation and involving stakeholders at every stage, we can tackle challenges and find the best solutions together.