Orsted is planning a “world-first” attempt to support coral reefs by growing corals on offshore wind turbine foundations.
Together with Taiwanese partners, the company will test the concept in the tropical waters of the country this summer.
The aims are to determine whether corals can be successfully grown on offshore wind turbine foundations and to evaluate the potential positive biodiversity impact of scaling up the initiative.
According to the UN Environment Programme, coral reefs provide habitat for an estimated 32% of all marine species and benefit 1 billion people worldwide, directly or indirectly.
But global warming is increasing sea surface temperatures, which can create a bleaching effect that threatens the survival of tropical coral reef ecosystems, adding to the global biodiversity crisis.
Climate change is becoming the biggest driver of biodiversity loss, and a substantial expansion of offshore wind is central to tackling these interlinked crises.
Governments are planning a significant build-out of green energy infrastructure at sea, and if done right, Orsted believes the expansion of offshore wind energy needed to fight climate change can also integrate solutions that support and enhance ocean biodiversity.
Adding to its efforts to leave nature healthier than before, Orsted, the global leader in offshore wind, is exploring innovative new ways to protect and enhance biodiversity.
ReCoral by Orsted is one example of the company is exploring innovative new ways to protect and enhance biodiversity.
The project aims to implement a non-invasive approach for collecting surplus indigenous coral spawn as it washes ashore and for growing healthy coral colonies on the foundations of nearby offshore wind turbines.
Orsted said that increased surface temperatures in shallow waters can lead to coral bleaching.
However, at offshore wind farm locations further offshore, temperatures are more stable due to vertical mixing in the water column, preventing extreme temperature increases.
The idea behind ReCoral is that the relatively stable water temperatures at offshore wind farm locations will limit the risk of coral bleaching and allow healthy corals to grow on wind turbine foundations.
Corals will be grown close to the water’s surface to ensure sufficient sunlight.
In 2020, biologists and marine specialists in Orsted teamed up with private and academic coral experts to mature and test the concept.
In 2021, the ReCoral team successfully grew juvenile corals on underwater steel and concrete substrates at a quayside test facility for the first time.
In June this year, the offshore proof-of-concept trial will begin at the Greater Changhua offshore wind farms in Taiwan to test the concept in open waters on four separate wind turbine foundations.
Orsted group president and chief executive Mads Nipper said: “To halt climate change and create a sustainable future for the planet, its ecosystems, and its people, we must speed up the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.
“Governments are preparing a significant expansion of offshore wind energy, and I’m confident that if done right, the offshore wind build-out can support and enhance ocean biodiversity.
“If we succeed with ReCoral and the concept proves to be scalable, this Orsted innovation could create a significant positive impact on ocean biodiversity.”