Europe Looks to the Seafloor for Answers

MiningImpact research advances environmental clarity as Allseas and Freyr Battery assess future mineral paths; firms should monitor emerging regulations closely

18 Nov 2025

Europe’s argument over mining the deep sea is entering a more telling phase. A new round of studies from the MiningImpact alliance aims to test long-held claims about whether mineral-rich seabeds can support cleaner energy systems. For firms seeking certainty, the shift feels overdue.

The alliance, led by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research and backed by about €9m from nine countries, is meant to give governments the evidence needed to decide whether seabed mining belongs in long-term resource plans. Researchers will examine how mining equipment stirs the seafloor, how fast ecosystems might recover and what newer models can foresee. Expeditions will head to the Arctic Mid Ocean Ridge, where Norway has shown interest in opening exploration zones even as its licensing debate drags on. One project leader said regulators need “measurable facts”, suggesting that years of conjecture may be replaced by firmer ground.

The industry is watching closely. Allseas, developing a system to collect polymetallic nodules, knows that environmental verdicts will shape which technologies survive. Battery-makers, too, are eyeing any new sources that could widen supply chains for the energy transition.

Yet caution dominates. Environmental groups warn of damage that could last decades. Even researchers admit early findings may justify tighter rules. Not one commercial licence has been granted in international waters, a reminder of how far there is to go.

Technology suppliers such as Kongsberg see promise as the evidence base expands. Better data may help them design tools that meet strict standards while giving Europe an edge. Only about 1% of the global seabed has been mapped in detail, a measure of how much remains unknown.

For now, policymakers and executives wait for the first hints of clarity. The findings will not trigger swift commercial moves, but they may set the scientific footing for decisions later. The deep sea remains a frontier—one that could influence markets and shape Europe’s next chapter in resources.