Orsted is partnering with ARK Nature to test the potential of rewilding principles to restore vital ocean biodiversity as the renewable energy transition gathers pace.
One initial focus is restoring shellfish reefs that are fundamental to ecological restoration in the North Sea and to use learnings from the project to develop the best ways to scale up work globally to ensure an overall net-positive impact on nature when building offshore wind farms.
Biodiversity is disappearing at an “alarming rate”, said Orsted and ARK Nature.
The partners said “their shared vision is bold” and added that pitting renewable energy and nature protection against each other is no longer tenable if we are to act with appropriate urgency to the global crises which we all face.
The partnership will start in the North Sea, where Orsted and ARK are setting up a Marine FieldLab for rewilding.
The first step is finding the most suitable location on ecological grounds, and from there they will develop and implement promising rewilding measures.
The impacts will be closely studied and learnings will be used to refine and develop ways to scale up positive biodiversity impact globally.
Restoration of shellfish reefs is a potential area as reefs formed by living organisms, such as oysters and mussels, act as the foundation of a healthy marine ecosystem.
They provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for other species, in addition to improving water quality and are fundamental to the restoration of the wider North Sea ecosystem.
Currently there are very few places remaining in the North Sea where shellfish larvae can attach and create new reefs.
The partnership will test and develop the best ways for wind farms to provide this and support biodiversity. Once the approach has been sufficiently tested, it could potentially be applied at a larger scale around the world.
Orsted Continental Europe region head Rasmus Errboe said: “When it comes to tackling the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, there’s a real need for speed.
“We need urgent action – but that speed must not come at the expense of nature, and Orsted believes it doesn’t have to.
“With this new collaboration, I’m excited to add to our existing, ambitious global biodiversity programme.
Together with ARK, Orsted will implement innovative new restoration projects and study how rewilding can contribute to improving the health of our oceans, and how the offshore wind sector can enhance that contribution.”
Jos Rademakers, CEO of ARK Nature, said: “ARK Nature and Orsted are ultimately pursuing the same goal: self-sustaining, healthy oceans.
“We’ll aim to restore the vital natural processes and contribute to creating wind farms that have an overall positive impact on nature and humanity. And we know we have to deliver that impact as soon as we possibly can.”