ogether with the North Sea Foundation and the Natuur & Milieu organisation, Van Oord and Eneco are starting a unique project to restore natural underwater features around wind farms: “the Rich North Sea”. A pilot project at Eneco’s Luchterduinen wind farm will investigate how nature conservation and sustainable energy generation can reinforce one another.
Various types of artificial reef systems and oysters will be positioned within the wind farm. The reef structures will be positioned within Eneco’s Luchterduinen wind farm this coming autumn using a Van Oord installation vessel. The artificial reefs will consist of “reef balls” and cages containing adult oysters These will produce larvae that will then contribute to the creation of a full-scale reef with all kinds of other species – a veritable nursery for biodiversity. How nature develops within the pilot project will be tracked in a scientific research and monitoring programme in collaboration with Waardenburg consultants and Wageningen University and Research Centre.
