ExoReef: Bespoke Artificial reefs
➤ July 2024 ➤ North Sea & Celtic Sea ➤ OWGP ➤ TotalEnergies EP Nederland
Exo’s bespoke artificial reef deployed in the Celtic Sea
Problem
As we continue to build offshore infrastructure to generate renewable energy, there are growing concerns about the impact this may have on marine biodiversity. We have seen seen a growing requirement for offshore projects to offset and mitigate environmental impacts, with the deployment of artificial reefs being one such way that we can continue to achieve our own development goals whilst benefitting nature.
Solution
In collaboration with Total Energies in the Netherlands, Exo Engineering have designed and produced a 4.5-tonne artificial reef, made from our low-carbon GeoBlock® mix. The pipe-shape design enables mobile marine species such as juvenile fish to seek shelter from predators, whilst our complex surface textures encouraging settlement of pioneer species.
Through the use of bespoke Nature-Inclusive Design, we can optimise the design of our marine infrastructure to maximise the benefits for nature and humans.
Results
The artificial reefs have been deployed at a number of locations, such as in the Dutch North Sea and the Celtic Sea and will be monitored over the coming years to assess their benefits for biodiversity. A range of monitoring techniques will be used, such as ROV surveys and eDNA. Baseline surveys have already been conducted which will allow us to draw conclusions about the impact of our artificial reefs on local biodiversity.
