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Research

It’s here: Feasibility Study V2.0

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Feasibility Study V2.0 is now available for download.

The report can be downloaded .

Parallel to making preparations for the upcoming Pilot Phase, The Ocean Cleanup’s crew has carefully listened to all peer review comments and other feedback, based on which a series of several thousand edits have been implemented.

Some notable improvements include:

  • Inclusion of recent studies on the economic and toxicological impacts of plastic pollution
  • Inclusion of fishing for litter in the consideration of alternative cleanup methods
  • Inclusion of discussion of the effects of current variability
  • Inclusion of wind load
  • Correction of the current velocity load from 50% to over 95% of conditions
  • Inclusion of comments on corrosion of tension and connection cables
  • Inclusion of discussion on how the skirt angle may influence catch efficiency
  • Expansion of biofouling chapter
  • Inclusion of discussion on the ichthyoplankton impact of the system
  • Inclusion of results of Rotterdam harbor bycatch experiment
  • Updated outlook on the Pilot Phase

The report’s main conclusion – that ֱArray is likely feasible and financially viable method to cleanup nearly half the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 10 years – remains unchanged.

“There’s obviously a lot more work to do – we estimate the technology should be ready for full-scale implementation in three to four years’ time. Now that we are confident the first phase has produced a solid basis, we can now close off the feasibility study, and fully focus on initiating the Pilot Phase”, Boyan said.