Brine-fed electrolytic reefs
Innovation that turns waste into marine life and reinforces the APB’s environmental commitment
Palma
07/01/2026- Medio Ambiente
Port innovation and marine sustainability are making progress thanks to initiatives promoted or supported by the Balearic Islands Port Authority (APB), which acts as a catalyst for new technological solutions in the maritime and port spheres. Among the outstanding projects is the proposal Brine-fed electrolytic reefs, developed by Irp engineering and the University of Alicante and a finalist in the Timón Awards, in which the APB is a partner.
This innovative solution turns waste brine from desalination plants into an opportunity for ecological regeneration. Its technology allows reefs to be "grown" through electrolysis processes on light metal mesh placed at discharge points, exploiting the high ionic concentration of the brine to accelerate the formation of a calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate coating‑. The result is a structure with a texture and porosity similar to that of a natural rocky substrate, suitable for the colonisation of filter-feeding benthic communities.
Once the desired thickness and roughness conditions are achieved, these modules are installed in marinas and ports as green infrastructure, contributing to increasing biodiversity and improving the quality of the port ecosystem. In addition, the proposal incorporates an underwater observatory suspended from fixed or floating pontoons, with glass floor sections that enable direct observation of the reef and its development, together with salinity, pH, turbidity and temperature sensors. Its integration of educational and environmental communication components reinforces the link between the port and the general public.
The project exemplifies the type of applied and sustainability-oriented innovation that the APB seeks to promote: solutions that not only mitigate impacts, but also generate environmental, social and informative value in the Balearic Islands port environment.
