A key milestone was met in May. Impossible Metals demonstrated the capabilities of their autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Eureka 1. The successful test in shallow water has brought the technology developer one step closer to their vision of a fleet of AUVs that can mine polymetallic nodules efficiently and with a “softer touch” than competing solutions.
The opportunity: Vast areas on the sea floor in certain oceans around the world are covered in nodules – potato-sized rocks that contain metals that are in particular demand for the energy transition, mainly copper, nickel, and cobalt. The Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean is considered to be the richest nodule field globally.
The challenge: Dredging (vacuuming) the ocean floor leaves long-lasting scars, generates sediment plumes that may affect ecosystems over large areas, and it destroys the ecosystem at the dredging site.
The solution: Don’t dredge.
The AUVs designed by Impossible Metals will float above the seafloor. Instead of indiscriminate vacuuming, a set of mechanical arms will pick up the individual nodules. In combination, these features will minimize plume generation and disturbance of benthic organisms.
Further, the AUVs will have an AI-driven computer vision system that recognizes collectible nodules and avoids other types of rocks or nodules with marine life. The AUVs can also be algorithmically programmed to leave behind a certain percentage of nodules as habitat corridors to ensure the ecosystem and habitat remain intact.
Additionally, using a fleet of AUVs for mining and transporting nodules to a ship on the surface, will result in less noise generation compared to using riser pumps. The latter option is also more expensive, according to the company.
Deep Sea Minerals 2023
Oliver Gunasekara will present the results from the demonstration at the upcoming Deep Sea Minerals 2023 conference in Bergen in December. The participants will also get a sneak peek of Eureka 2.
Further, Mr. Gunasekara will present some results from the company’s project on a novel, energy-efficient bioextraction method for mineral processing.
The demonstration in May was the company’s first proof of concept for an AUV with full autonomous operation. Specifically, Impossible Metals showed that Eureka 1 could avoid contact with the seafloor and that its buoyancy system, the harvesting system, and the overall fluid dynamics of the vehicle did not produce any plumes, only minor sediment disturbance, as nodules were picked up.
According to the CEO of Impossible Metals, Oliver Gunasekara, the company’s solution for harvesting nodules is not only environmentally friendly, but it may also turn out to be more economical than competing techniques.
“Our goal is to have the lowest environmental impacts and the lowest costs of any deep-sea mining technology. Our economic model shows that our costs per ton of nodules to port are forecast to be half of competing dredging solutions”.
The successful demonstration of Eureka 1 is only the first of several milestones on the company’s roadmap. The team is already working on developing Eureka 2. The second-generation AUV will be able to operate at depths of up to 6 km and carry a payload of 100 kg (Eureka 1: 25 meters and 5 kg).
The minibus-sized Eureka 3 is envisioned to be the final prototype model that will pave the way for commercial use of the AUVs in a fleet. Impossible Metals have indicated that these might be ready for operations from 2026.