These eco-engineered mattresses were deployed over a year ago to protect and stabilize a submarine cable on the seabed along the US East Coast. The footage captured in a recent dive to monitor the biological benefits of the mattresses show a rich marine ecosystem and biodiversity developing on the mattresses.
Nature-inclusive solutions are already applied at scale – enabling ecological accountability in offshore infrastructure, while unlocking new opportunities for local supply chains.
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ECOncrete is a finalist in the 2023 Ventus awards’ Supply Chain Advancement category. Oceantic Network’s industry award winners will be announced later this month in Boston.
ECOncrete ecological concrete technology enables nature-positive advancement within the existing supply chain of the Offshore Wind sector. By design, the technology allows local concrete and pre-casting companies to supply offshore wind projects with locally sourced and manufactured scour and cable protection solutions which are eco-engineered to enhance biodiversity (Case Studies and Selected Projects).
Our offshore solutions are an application of over 10 years of R&D in responsible marine construction. The ecological scour and cable protection solutions redefine offshore infrastructure design, combining innovative technology, ecological engineering, and a pivotal supply chain component – local manufacturing with locally sourced materials.
Ecological Integrity, Structural Performance and Localized Production
ECOncrete offshore cable and scour protection solutions integrate the company’s patented and proven ecological concrete technology. It includes a bio-enhancing admixture, surface complexity, and nature-inclusive design optimized for habitat creation and colonization for a wide range of organisms. ECOncrete solutions enable offshore wind developers to create biodiversity enhancement opportunities, and ultimately build nature-positive offshore infrastructure (technology overview and select US projects).
Closeup of ECOncrete tailored cable protection solution to restore biodiversity. Case Study Interconnector Project, Red Electrica, Spain. 10 months after deployment
Increasingly, offshore wind farms require the integration of nature-inclusive design (NID) solutions to mitigate and manage the ecological impact of offshore infrastructures, and to create opportunities to support, enhance, and restore marine biodiversity. In response, offshore developers and contractors are seeking new materials and innovative technologies to design and deploy alternative solutions to current industry standards.
ECOncrete’s approach, to leverage offshore infrastructure to promote and enhance marine biodiversity at scale, represents a shift in design paradigm. Compared to more localized measures such as add-ons that are often not a core part of the offshore infrastructure, this shift is driving innovation with the goal to increase the ecological value of offshore wind farm infrastructures and upscale desired ecological effects.
Locally Sourced Ecological Scour & Cable Protection
ECOncrete eco-engineering solutions for scour and cable protection unlock new opportunities for offshore developers to adapt their design and integrate biodiversity enhancements as an integral part of the construction of offshore infrastructure assets. At the same time, these solutions unlock new supply chain advancement opportunities to support local manufacturing as in Marine Mattresses in use in various projects.
We are thrilled to see our advances and work recognized in this way, and are looking forward to the Boston event!
Official Ventus Awards 2023 Website
On April 20, 2023, a panel of European industry experts, hosted by ECOncrete’s Ido Sella, discussed the impact of offshore wind on the marine environment. The recording of the full webinar is now available below and on our ECOncrete Youtube channel.
Watch the webinar now to gain insights on management of environmental risks (benthic habitats and species, pelagic fauna, etc), design of mitigation measures, long time monitoring, and regulatory challenges:
Click here to watch on Youtube >≫
Remment is a Marine Ecologist at Van Oord – Windenergy. With 20 years’ proven experience and an impressive track record in constructing offshore wind projects, Van Oord is leading the way in the transition towards renewable energy, changing the offshore environment, and dealing with the opportunities and risks in relation with new offshore wind development projects and associated evolving requirements.
Katarina, Environmental Lawyer and Head of Business Development and Environmental Protection, at Seatower , is addressing legal and regulatory challenges and ecological requirements for Offshore Wind. Seatower designs gravity foundations for offshore wind turbines and substations.
Marina is a Biologist and Senior Marine Consultant at Tecnoambiente. She specializes in biodiversity and marine conservation and management, and will share insights and experience from her practice at Tecnoambiente.
Tecnoambiente is an environmental consultancy with its own accredited laboratory. In addition to onshore advisory services, Tecnoambiente is specialized in the marine environment and offshore projects.
More Webinars hosted by ECOncrete:
When a structure, like an offshore wind turbine and tower, is placed offshore, the structure causes local eddies and an increase of the current and wave motions. This fast-flowing water stirs sand and sediment particles, picks them up and transports them away from the structure, creating a hole around the structure. This phenomenon is called scour.
Undersea cables carry electricity from the offshore wind farms back to the mainland where it is needed. They also carry the vast majority of all intercontinental communication. Subsea cables are vulnerable to many corrosive and erosive forces – both natural and manmade – including particulate scour from currents and sea water egress.
When talking to regulators and decision makers about wind turbine foundations an early query is why not just use ‘natural’ (i.e., quarried) rocks to address this issue rather than concrete?
‘Natural’ rock commonly used for scour protection is not ‘natural’ to the marine environment. The natural rocks’ texture, shape and chemical composition deter marine organisms from adhering and forming habitat niches. Introduction of these materials is usually associated with invasive species and low biodiversity.
Droplock units are manufactured on-site and deployed by any standard vessel.
ECOncrete scour and cable protection solutions provide a unique range of commercial and ecological benefits. ECOncrete’s Droplock Scour Protection is the result of a two-year R&D project to provide offshore wind projects with ecologically advanced scour protection. Design and engineering commenced in May 2021 and is funded by the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Energy Foundation with the participation of the US Department of Energy.
ECOncrete’s bio-enhancing concrete technology has been extensively researched and tested in the past 10 years in various environments and over 40 projects. Results on the positive ecological benefits and superior structural performance were published in numerous studies and peer-reviewed papers, both in academia and by third party laboratories.
ECOncrete articulated concrete block mattresses.
To examine the ecological and structural performance of the Droplock to natural rock, over 1000 metric tons of bio-enhancing Droplock and rock-material for scour protection were deployed off Long Island, NY, more than 100ft deep in October 2022. The Droplock is currently undergoing ecological monitoring for the next two years, to set new standards in responsible marine construction. Periodic remote operated vehicle (ROV) imaging and observation provides results of biological colonization and structural properties.
Independent regulators and validators, such as the Nature Conservancy (Nature-Based Designs for Augmenting Offshore Wind in the United States); Nature England (Scour and Cable Protection Decommissioning Report); and the Government of the Netherlands (Nature-Inclusive Design for Offshore Wind) recommend ECOncrete’s patented admix and technology, for its nature-based designs and the ability to enhance biodiversity and ecosystems.
Droplock scour protection is designed to outperform rock and create habitat for a diverse ecosystem.
ECOncrete’s nature-based solutions offer a self-mitigating alternative to traditional concrete block mattresses, scour protection, and virtually any concrete marine infrastructure. What are the benefits and how can these solutions be applied in the growing offshore wind sector in the United States?
The Biden administration’s recent offshore lease announcements demonstrate their priorities to promote offshore wind energy across the United States. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) are among the leading legislations supporting offshore wind development. In light of legislative attention and the challenges inherent in offshore wind design, the industry must consider how to maximize structural integrity and lifespan. This critical topic was the theme covered by industry and government experts in our webinar ‘Environmental Considerations for Offshore Wind Development’ in Q4 2022.
When assessing standards for Avoidance, Minimization, and Mitigation Measures (AMMMs), integrating nature-based solutions into ecological offshore wind development produces the best results by minimizing habitat degradation and lessening a project’s carbon footprint.
ECOncrete’s marine mattresses and novel scour protection patented system, the Droplock, are produced with our patented bio-enhancing technology. The units, that can be produced on or near – site, exceed structural standards and benefit the marine ecosystem, as shown in scientific research, peer reviewed papers, and applications in projects around the world.
ECOncrete’s nature-based solutions for scour and cable protection reduce environmental impacts and provide ecosystem services that are not achievable from standard offshore mitigation measures. ECOncrete’s technology was recently referenced in a technical report highlighting effective nature-based design solutions for offshore wind turbine infrastructure by The Nature Conservancy (TNC).
Integrating ECOncrete technology into offshore wind infrastructure and cable protection will:
ECOncrete Wet-Cast Articulated Concrete Block Marine Mattress
ECOncrete’s Droplock units act as a filter and armor layer to stabilize turbine foundations (and comparable marine infrastructure) while also mimicking natural marine habitats.
The Droplock minimizes native habitat degradation and supports ecological uplift in offshore wind projects. The Droplock units replace traditionally used quarry rock, which is a poor substrate for marine life. The patented, science-based design of the Droplock, however, promotes marine biodiversity and can reduce the total mass required for scour protection by 30%, producing significant savings on deployment cost and energy.
ECOncrete articulated concrete block mattresses (ACBMs) should be used for cable protection measures, thereby increasing opportunities for native benthic enrichment and promoting the development of a living layer that reinforces the structural foundation. Research published in a peer reviewed journal about ECOncrete marine mattresses quantifies the significant structural and ecological benefits when compared to control structures.
The impacts of decommissioning is another factor to be analyzed in offshore development. There are two main construction alternatives: the removal of scour protection and rock filling, or leaving scour protection in place as undisturbed as possible.
ECOncrete’s bio-enhancing mattresses and scour protection units both create thriving ecosystems, the existence of which strengthen the argument to leave scour protections in place, thus avoiding further disruption of the benthic ecosystem and saving decommissioning costs.
ECOncrete provides a win win solution that benefits project owners, structures, and the local environment. ECOncrete’s innovative technology has much to offer this burgeoning industry.
Marine Life Settlement on ECOncrete Unit
ECOncrete’s patented bio-enhancing technology combines chemically balancing concrete admixture, complex surface textures, and science-based macro design. The technology is used around the globe, backed by a decade of research and experience, and can be integrated into any marine concrete infrastructure. It complies with industry standards and provides proven ecological benefits. Learn about our pilot project developing and monitoring bio-enhancing scour protection here.
ECOncrete is furthermore featured in the Dutch government Nature-Inclusive Design Catalog for offshore wind infrastructure, as well as the Wind Energy Monitoring & Mitigation Technologies Tool developed by the International Energy Agency Wind Task 34 (WREN), the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The May issue of the Concrete Journal carries a lead article written by our Dr. Andrew Rella, Coastal and Environmental Engineer.
In the article – A Nature Inspired Approach to Offshore Concrete Solutions for UK Net Zero – Dr. Rella looks at whether UK government pledges to ‘Build Back Greener’ and pursue Net Zero ambitions have overlooked an important engineering opportunity: ecological concrete for offshore infrastructure.
UK Government and corporate spending has focused heavily on growing installed offshore wind capacity and more recently on floating wind projects. However, the concrete subsea structures anchoring Britain’s wind power revolution could be approached more innovatively.
“If UK offshore wind is to be truly sustainable and we are to meet our long-term net-zero goals, ecological materials and nature-inspired design need to come as standard”
‘High-performance ecological concrete technologies can be applied to any concrete marine infrastructure to increase strength and durability while simultaneously transforming them into bases for a thriving marine ecosystem and active carbon sink’ Dr. Rella explains.
‘These technologies are also scalable and cost effective. They are already enhancing marine life in breakwaters, ports and offshore infrastructure … and larger CAPEX offshore project developers are paying attention.
‘The UK is targeting offshore wind expansion towards a goal of 40GW in 2030 and 65-125GW by 2050 … innovative structures using concrete technologies that deliver nature inclusive design and lasting performance ought to become industry standard now.’
The full article is available here Concrete_Journal_May2022
Find out more about ECOncrete Offshore Applications
