Offshore operations have begun at Ecowende’s 760MW Hollandse Kust West wind farm with the start of scour protection works.
Van Oord has deployed subsea rock installation vessels Nordnes and Bravenes to install scour protection around monopiles, marking a milestone for the project.
Scour protection stabilises the seabed to prevent erosion caused by currents and waves, ensuring the integrity of turbine foundations. At Hollandse Kust West, the measure has been redesigned to optimise marine biodiversity.
In close collaboration with Ecowende, Van Oord has developed four innovative scour protection designs using stones of varying sizes, including grading of 60–300kg with some up to 450kg. The approach creates larger crevices and specially designed bays to provide shelter for marine species such as Atlantic cod.
The company said the variations in stone size, crevices and bay structures enhance lee zones and stimulate a richer ecosystem by diversifying the rock–sand interface.
Ecowende and Van Oord will monitor the different designs to evaluate their ecological performance and long-term impact.
The installation of the 60–300kg grading, including stones weighing up to 450kg, with the Bravenes sets a new benchmark for biodiversity-focused scour protection in offshore wind, according to Van Oord.