Vattenfall’s 1500MW Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) offshore wind project is the focus of a study into how nature-inclusive design of wind turbines can support marine life.
Vattenfall has joined forces with Dutch nature conservation organisation De Rijke Noordzee on the study.
Water replenishment holes in the wind turbine foundations offer an opportunity for fish and other marine species to enter and leave again.
The joint study of Vattenfall and De Rijke Noordzee is the first time that research is conducted into what the water replenishment holes could mean for marine life.
The study is aimed at finding out to what extent the inside of the turbine foundations can be used by marine life to settle, shelter and as a feeding ground.
HKZ is located 18-34 km off the Dutch coast, between the city of The Hague and Zandvoort.
“If the results meet our expectations, this will boost marine biodiversity”, said Erwin Coolen, programme director of De Rijke Noordzee.
“Nature inclusive design is the future. I am proud we are working with Vattenfall on these kinds of innovative solutions, that will provide our country with sustainable energy while strengthening the environment at the same time.”
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research NIOZ is involved in the study too.
The elliptical openings measure approximately 30 cm by a metre and are located above the seabed and just below the water surface. Over the next couple of years data will be collected on several occasions to check the development of biodiversity.
Last winter, scientists from De Rijke Noordzee carried out their first series of measurements.
Findings will be included in a toolbox called “Nature development in wind parks” that De Rijke Noordzee will develop.
Its open-source character makes it easy and cost-efficient to reuse in new projects.
Vattenfall wants to increase biodiversity in wind farms and gain more insights.
Gijs Nijsten, responsible for sustainability at Hollandse Kust Zuid, said: “Offshore wind is growing rapidly and will continue to expand significantly over the next years.
“We are constantly looking for ways to minimise the impact our projects have on the ecosystem. Continuous innovation and modification of turbines has led to an ever-improving balance between sustainable produced electricity and a healthy ecosystem.”
HKZ will be operational in 2023.