ExoSphere Scour Protection
➤ August 2023 ➤ Living Windfarms Project ➤ OWGP
Problem
Scour protection at offshore wind farms is commonly provided through rock cover, which is typically non-local, carbon intensive and offers little usable habitat for local species.
Solution
We identified an opportunity to build nature-inclusivity into scour protection, and began to develop an alternative which can be deployed using conventional methods whilst increasing the amount of habitat available for marine species.
The development of the ExoSphere, part of our ExoReef family represented a huge opportunity for biodiversity enhancement: Effective scour protection for offshore wind infrastructure which also incorporates swim-through features and a large centre cavity, providing habitats for juvenile crustaceans and fish. During the production of ExoSpheres, we use aggregate by-product, encouraging a shift towards a circular economy, reducing waste, and achieving carbon savings.
Results
Our ExoSpheres are an innovative, yet comparative way to protect offshore wind infrastructure from scour whilst supporting biodiversity. Having demonstrated their potential to reduce scouring around crucial offshore windfarm infrastructure, this type of nature-inclusive designs is crucial for supporting our marine biodiversity.
Due to the bespoke production process, we are able to produce ExoSpheres of custom weights and sizes at a large scale.
