For energy companies and marine contractors
Offshore innovation
The loss of biodiversity of marine life species is becoming a bigger and more obvious problem. Offshore wind farms create opportunity for large scale ecosystem restoration through development of marine infrastructure.
Easy installation
Reefy wants to reduce impact in all possible ways. Therefore our products are designed with light installation methods or tag along opportunities in mind, such as armour layer replacements.
Restore marine ecosystems
Reefy makes use of certain called "umbrella species" that kickstart new ecosystems by their capacity of for example learning water and attract other species. We work together with nature by using our products as the seeds that spark the initial marine ecosystem and we let nature do the rest of the work.
Monitoring impact
Reefy ensures to make impact. Therefore during the project, but also thereafter the impact is measured with advanced techniques so in the end we could present results, learn from experience and become even better in what we do.
The solutions:
The HERO: Habitat Enhancement and Restoration of Oysters
The loss of biodiversity of marine life species is becoming a bigger and more obvious problem. As offshore wind farms can have a major impact on the surrounding natural environment, we can help to reduce this impact and help marine life to flourish again.
The HERO is designed for rapid and large scale seeding of mature flat oyster broodstock on and around scour protection. Multi-generation broodstock allows for seasonal spawning and settlement on offshore infrastructure such as scour protection, artificial reefs and turbine foundations.
Offshore ReefBlocks
The ReefBlocks are made of
a sustainable and plastic free material, harmless to
the environment, and provide the optimal substrate
for oysters to attach to.
Weighing up to 7 tons, ReefBlocks can fully or partially replace armour layer rocks in scour protection design whilst providing habitat for fish and crustceans.
The ReefBlocks are specially designed
and tested for stability to perform in high velocity environments. Because of its design,
it will still remain stable despite large
currents. Surface textures will attract oyster spat, making the system complimentary to the HERO.
- ReefBlocks attract marine life due to their shape, like Atlantic cods, European lobsters, North sea crabs, pouting fish and eventually catsharks and cuttlefish.
- Accelerate the natural process of oyster growth.
- They provide the opportunity for cold water coral, anemones and algae to grow, like Alcyonium digitatum, Metridium senile and fig sponges.
- Create islands of biodiversity at and between monopiles which increases the ecological connectivity.
Installation
Because of its shape, the HERO can be placed among the scour protection around the windmills as well as in the sand. The HERO does not require difficult installation techniques and can simply be thrown overboard by hand. This can be done during the installation of the scour protection, but also after the installation of the windmills and scour protection.
2020 winner
More benefits
Your advantages at a glance
By implementing REB you restore nature and create living space for a wide variety of life forms which bring even more advantages.
Security and financial matters
- Easy monitoring
- Installed without heavy duty equipment
- Self-sustains and healing after storms, reducing maintenance costs
The ecological benefits
- Attracts marine life due to its shape, like Atlantic cods, European lobsters, North sea crabs, pouting fish and eventually catsharks and cuttlefish.
- Accelerates the natural process of oyster growth.
- Provides substrate for cold water coral, anemones and hydroids.
- Creates Islands of biodiversity on and between monopiles which increases the ecological connectivity.
Real life example
Pilot project: Brouwersdam
The installation of large-scale offshore wind
farms in the North Sea makes it both possible
and necessary to strengthen nature within and
around the wind farms. The North Sea
Foundation (Stichting De Noordzee) and Natuur
& Milieu have launched The Rich North Sea (De
Rijke Noordzee or DRN) - project in which they
investigate ways to enhance nature in offshore
wind farms. Together with the Rich North Sea, Reefy is testing innovations for nature enhancement at the Brouwersdam in the Dutch province of Zeeland.
Rewilding the ocean to protect the land.
Delft, The Netherlands
BTW: NL860704518B01