SPREE
Scour Protection, Cable Crossings and CPS Stabilisation, and Ecological Enhancement with Armourstone
Publieke samenvatting / Public summary
Aanleiding
The North Sea is one of the most heavily used seas globally, hosting various functions like nature, shipping, recreation, and fishing. With growing opportunities in the offshore energy and other blue economy activities, oceans are projected to see use increases across the globe. Simultaneously, the North Sea is one of the biggest Dutch nature areas and oceans globally provide essential ecosystem services to humans. In light of often competing use cases, international institutions, governments, and regulators are seeking to ensure the sustainable use of our seas and oceans, that considers societal and environmental impacts as much as economic ones.
Doelstelling
In this project, a consortium consisting of research institutes (Deltares and Wageningen Marine Research), commercial parties (Boskalis, INSPIRE Environmental, RWE, TenneT, and Vattenfall) as well as innovators (BAM, Coastruction, Holcim, GEOWALL and Reefy) will investigate the potential to use engineered reef units as scour and secondary protection for offshore wind farms while accounting for requirements to enhance local marine ecosystems and to do so with minimal environmental costs through innovative designs and materials. This research will bring together public and private stakeholders throughout the project in desk studies, physical testing, and workshops. Special attention will be paid to the opportunities and challenges to address key sustainability requirements through these technological advancements.
Korte omschrijving
The offshore wind energy sector, a key contributor to realizing the energy transition, will receive significant investments globally by 2050 and will have noticeable impacts on our seas and oceans. Not only do legislators and industry representatives seek to mitigate negative impacts but rather the goal is to facilitate the energy transition while simultaneously enhancing biodiversity and a healthier underwater ecology around wind farms. The SPREE Joint Industry Project seeks to contribute to innovations that have the potential to sustainably supply of energy in the future.
The North Sea is one of the most heavily used seas globally, hosting various functions like nature, shipping, recreation, and fishing. With growing opportunities in the offshore energy and other blue economy activities, oceans are projected to see use increases across the globe. Simultaneously, the North Sea is one of the biggest Dutch nature areas and oceans globally provide essential ecosystem services to humans. In light of often competing use cases, international institutions, governments, and regulators are seeking to ensure the sustainable use of our seas and oceans, that considers societal and environmental impacts as much as economic ones.
Doelstelling
In this project, a consortium consisting of research institutes (Deltares and Wageningen Marine Research), commercial parties (Boskalis, INSPIRE Environmental, RWE, TenneT, and Vattenfall) as well as innovators (BAM, Coastruction, Holcim, GEOWALL and Reefy) will investigate the potential to use engineered reef units as scour and secondary protection for offshore wind farms while accounting for requirements to enhance local marine ecosystems and to do so with minimal environmental costs through innovative designs and materials. This research will bring together public and private stakeholders throughout the project in desk studies, physical testing, and workshops. Special attention will be paid to the opportunities and challenges to address key sustainability requirements through these technological advancements.
Korte omschrijving
The offshore wind energy sector, a key contributor to realizing the energy transition, will receive significant investments globally by 2050 and will have noticeable impacts on our seas and oceans. Not only do legislators and industry representatives seek to mitigate negative impacts but rather the goal is to facilitate the energy transition while simultaneously enhancing biodiversity and a healthier underwater ecology around wind farms. The SPREE Joint Industry Project seeks to contribute to innovations that have the potential to sustainably supply of energy in the future.