CCell: A Bio-Inspired Solution to Coastal Erosion
Magda Nawrocka-Weekes
CCell Renewables uses wave-generated electricity to grow coral reefs which can be used to protect coastal communities from erosion and revive an important marine ecosystem. After winning eight awards for their innovative paddle design, they are now raising funds for their 200 metre validator project in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. Read on to find out more…
Global coastlines are under threat from rising sea levels, increasingly extreme storms, and the rapid destruction of coastal habitats, with up to 70% of coastlines worldwide currently being eroded. At CCell, we are working on a nature-based solution to this challenge.
Tidal movements, ocean currents, and the actions of wind and waves all contribute to the erosion of coastlines. While these are all natural processes, climate change is making coastal erosion more unpredictable, and is exacerbating land loss in many places. With roughly 40% of the world’s population living within 100 km of the coast, billions of people will be affected by the knock-on effects of this.
Luckily nature has a solution. Coral reefs have been known to reduce wave heights and to absorb up to 97% of a wave’s energy. This makes them ideal for coastal defense. Reefs provide a natural barrier to sand migration and dampen incoming waves before they reach the shoreline. While coral reefs are a viable natural solution to coastal erosion, 25% of the world's reefs have already been lost, and they are under threat from ocean acidification and warming, with 99% predicted to be wiped out by 2040.
The CCell-Solution in action: harnessing wave energy, growing artificial reefs and providing protection for coastal communities. Photo: CCell
This is where CCell comes in. Using established technology, coupled with our cutting-edge engineering, we harness wave power to grow artificial reefs. To capture wave energy efficiently, we use our innovative curved paddle, the CCell-Wave. Its design inspiration comes from nature - think the fin of a fish or the flexibility of a whale’s tail. This biomimicry design allows the CCell-Wave to capture more energy than a standard flat paddle, and also allows the paddle to survive in extreme weather conditions.
The wave energy collected is processed through a smart power management (SPM) system. The SPM gets the electrical current just right (between 1.5 and 4 volts) and spreads it across a steel structure. Because the current needed is relatively small, any excess energy produced can be transferred back to the local grid. This makes CCell technology ideal for small, remote islands, allowing them to run on 100% renewable energy, whilst providing coastal protection through the growth of artificial reefs.
The CCell-Wave is connected up to a steel frame, which forms the structure of the reef. The electric current from the SPM causes natural minerals found in seawater to accumulate around the steel, forming limestone (calcium carbonate) at around 2.5 cm per year. This structure helps reduce coastal erosion by forcing waves to break before the shore, absorbing their energy and reducing wave heights. This goal of this strategy is to leave small waves unaltered, but reduce bigger waves, whereby smaller waves typically move sand onto a beach, and larger waves drive erosion. The structures will make marginal changes to wave conditions, reducing larger wave heights by ~10%, which will reduce their wave energy and related erosion during storms by ~20%.
To create a fully functioning coral reef ecosystem, coral gametes will be collected. The resulting corals will be grown in the lab or in coral nurseries using using coral gardening techniques. Once big enough they will be transplanted onto the calcified frame or, once the current has been turned off, free-floating coral larvae could attach if the conditions are right for settlement. Additional fragmented corals may be added from elsewhere, such as ‘corals of opportunity’. As the corals grow they will provide habitat for other reef organisms, including fish, invertebrates, and algae.
Our CCell-Wave test-paddle in place in Cozumel, Mexico where it spent 6 months in the water. Photo: CCell
This electrified technique for reef creation has been around for over 25 years and has been shown to increase the growth rate of corals by roughly 3.5x. At the moment, CCell are conducting further research, with the Living Reef foundation in Bermuda on the effects of electrified frames on coral growth, to ensure the artificial coral reefs will be healthy and successful in the long term. And our upcoming pilot project in Mexico will also be looking into the effects of different electrical conditions.
With the support of the National Commission for Protected Areas in Puerto Morelos, Mexico, we will soon begin a local validation project. The 200 m reef installation powered by our CCell-Wave technology will serve as an example of the transformative power of reefs, while giving back extra energy to the local community. This project will build upon our previous installation of the CCell-Wave in Cozumel, Mexico where the paddle, produced by local boat-builders, survived 6-months in the water, including through the hurricane season. To support this project, we are equity crowdfunding through Crowdcube.
Making CCell technology affordable and accessible will be vital in implementing it across the world. This is why we have focused on making sure our solution can be manufactured locally, providing jobs whilst reducing emissions from the transport of materials. Once established, coral reefs will also bolster the local economy through the eco-tourism industry (such as diving and snorkelling), which is an added bonus to the vital protection their structures provide to coastal communities.
Our founder Will with the team in Mexico, Left to Right: Francisco Caamaño Rico, Laura Espejel Córdoba, Jorge De Cordova, Dr Claudia Padilla Souza and Dr William Bateman. Photo: CCell
In every step of the process our small company has put sustainability and accessibility at the forefront; from what resin we use in our paddles, to the way we will plant non-fragmented coral on our reefs, and the training provided to deploy our technology. At times the issues caused by climate change can feel insurmountable and daunting, like a wave ready to break over us at any point, but at CCell we truly believe in our solution and its power to transform the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. This drives us to keep working in the face of such an unknown future. Along with the inspirational achievements of other organisations also striving for a more sustainable future, we know that together we can make a difference.
To join CCell on their mission, please consider investing in their crowdfunding campaign. You can invest here. To find out more about their pilot project watch the video below. For more information about CCell, check out their website and follow them on social media at @ccelluk