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RWE, a global leader in offshore wind, and UK-based eco-design innovator ARC Marine have achieved a world first at the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm with the installation of specially engineered Reef Cubes® as subsea protection for turbine foundations.
The innovative solution safeguards critical offshore energy infrastructure from strong seabed currents while simultaneously creating and enhancing marine habitats.
Approximately 75,000 Reef Cubes®, ranging from 15 cm to 35 cm in size, were recently installed at the base of one of Rampion’s turbines by marine contractor Rohde Nielsen. This marks the first real-world use of the patented Reef Cubes® as scour protection at an operational wind farm and is part of the Reef Enhancement for Scour Protection (RESP) pilot. The installation follows the partnership announcement between RWE and ARC Marine earlier in July. Thomas Michel, COO of RWE Offshore Wind, said “We are delighted to have reached this important milestone at Rampion in collaboration with our partners ARC marine and Rohde Nielsen. The successful implementation of this pilot project marks an important step forward in testing solutions that can both safeguard our assets and contribute to the marine environment. We look forward to monitoring the outcomes and sharing the learnings with our stakeholders and the wider industry.”
Tom Birbeck, CEO of ARC marine, said: “This project is a landmark moment for ARC marine and our Reef cubes® technology. By using a patented shape and optimised surface texture, the Reef cubes® provide over 100% more volume of habitat spaces than standard rock protection and 38% more surface area. Seeing them installed at Rampion demonstrates their potential to deliver dual benefits: robust scour protection and the creation of new marine habitats. This installation marks the start of global deployment potential for Reef cubes® at offshore turbines and platforms. They are scalable, locally sourced, cost-effective and fully aligned with incoming biodiversity net gain requirements and we are proud to work with RWE on pioneering a new generation of nature-inclusive offshore wind solutions.”
