We believe that everything can be better, not least coastal protection techniques that have not evolved in hundreds of years, until now.
"We cannot solve the problems caused by climate change with the same level of thinking and techniques that created them."
Coastal Modelling - Simulation of waves, currents and energy dissipation by the reef.
Reef Structure - Lightweight modular units that are stacked together and form the core of the reef.
Mineral Accretion - Growth of high strength rock crystals using electrolysis.
CCell Sense - Monitoring and precise distribution of renewable energy to stimulate rock and coral growth where it is needed.
Corals - Accelerated growth of corals in both local hatcheries and within the reef.
Renewable Energy - Harnessing renewable energy from ocean waves to power the reef growth.
CCell Reefs mimic this behaviour, selectively reducing the power of large waves, which are typically bad for the shoreline. Smaller waves, which are good and help build sand back onto the beach, pass through unaffected.
Our reefs are porous structures, which can further reduce energy in waves by inducing turbulence as they pass through.
Currently we use steel to define the initial shape of the reef, around which calcareous rock is grown. This rock is a perfect substrate for plants and coral to attach, which become an integral part of the structure. This approach allows us to minimise the amount of material we put into the ocean.
We use a modular design to ease transportation and installation, with units typically 2.5m long and up to 2m high, that can be stacked to accommodate to site bathymetry.
A safe low-voltage current is passed between a small metal anode and the steel structure. At the anode, oxygen is produced, which is beneficial for marine life. At the cathode (the main structure) the pH rises, inducing the precipitation of dissolved salts in seawater onto the structure.
The rock, formed of mainly Aragonite (calcium carbonate) and Brucite (magnesium hydroxide), grows at approximately 18mm per year and will automatically heal damaged areas.
The voltage applied to the reef structure is precisely controlled and centrally managed to ensure that every coulomb counts.
The digital management system continually optimises the power output, controlling the distribution of available renewable power across the reef. Through the sensing of environmental conditions the reefs adapts to enhance rock and marine growth across varying conditions.
Building on over 25 years of research, this process has been shown to accelerate coral growth: fragments of broken or farmed corals attached to the structure can grow faster than on natural reefs. This method of reef-creation has been used to restore coral reef and fish habitats.
Our partners at the Living Reefs Foundation have been researching the effects of our electrolysis technology on the growth of young corals.
CCell's patented wave paddle is a simple and sturdy design, inspired by nature, that extracts energy from ocean waves. The curve of our paddle is naturally strong and able to withstand extreme conditions, while the composite construction make the paddle ultra-light and durable. This device has the highest known power-to-weight ratio of any wave energy device.
Through minor adjustments during manufacture the unit can be optimised for the prevailing site conditions and is normally positioned adjacent to the growing reef.
