PRESS RELEASE: Innovative Nature Inclusive Designs to boost biodiversity in North Sea windfarms
TotalEnergies©, Bespoke artificial reefs being deployed in the Dutch North Sea
Exo Engineering has designed and produced bespoke artificial reefs aimed at increasing cod numbers in the North Sea.
The past 200 years have seen significant loss of reef habitats in the North Sea, severely impacting marine biodiversity. The North Sea is already a hotspot for offshore wind farms generating renewable energy, but now in the Netherlands, Nature Inclusive Design is one of the ecological requirements in the development of new offshore wind farms. There is increasing evidence that this approach could help to restore a balanced healthy ecosystem that will benefit all users, including fishers.
Exo Engineering has designed artificial reefs specifically for these new offshore wind developments and key species in the North Sea. Each reef weighs 4.5t and features large swim through habitats for juvenile species such as cod, as well as complex surface textures for reef building organisms to become established. The reef design has potential to create sheltered, sandy environments which could support pioneering, reef-building species such as Ross Worm.
Exo Engineering’s Operations Manager Will Melhuish, said: “As we begin to see the inclusion of artificial reefs being made mandatory as part of offshore windfarm tendering process, it represents an opportunity to design bespoke artificial reef units which are geared towards targeting specific species”.
Research in collaboration with TotalEnergies in the Netherlands and The Living Windfarms Project aims to quantify the impact these large artificial reefs will have on marine species. The reefs were deployed in late summer in the North Sea and Celtic Sea and will be monitored using environmental DNA and Remote Operated Vehicle surveys.
Environmental Engineer Liselotte Van Cranenburgh, from TotalEnergies EP Nederland, said: “We are excited to participate in a pilot project in the Dutch North Sea to facilitate research on these specially designed artificial reefs. We look forward to returning next year to assess the biodiversity gains and species settlement. The results of this pilot project can enhance future nature-inclusive design decisions for offshore wind farms and other offshore energy infrastructure in the North Sea and beyond”.
Not only do the reefs boost biodiversity; they also represent innovations in low carbon concrete. William Coulet, MD of Exo Engineering, said: “These artificial reefs use low carbon alternatives to cement, as well as recycled aggregates. This is so important for reducing emissions and creating a circular economy whilst also restoring natural habitats and boosting commercial fish stocks”.
The Exo Engineering team with the artificial reefs before deployment