Posters
Come meet the poster presenters to ask them questions and discuss their work
We would like to invite you to come and see the posters at our upcoming conference. The posters will showcase a diverse range of research topics, and will give delegates an opportunity to engage with the authors and learn more about their work. Whether you are a seasoned researcher or simply curious about the latest developments in your field, we believe that the posters will offer something of interest to everyone. So please join us at the conference and take advantage of this opportunity to learn and engage with your peers in industry and the academic community.
PO018: Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Engineered Reef Unit Solutions and Rock as Scour Protection in Offshore Wind Farm: Opportunities and Challenges
Dinda Mazeda, Environmental Specialist, Boskalis
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities have caused increased greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and have elevated the species extinction rate. Earth has exceeded six (including biosphere integrity and climate change) out of nine planetary boundaries, which are defined as safe operational space for humanity based on Earth's system stability (Richardson et al., 2023). Accelerating the energy transition has become important to mitigate climate change. At the same time, the energy industry can potentially co-benefit nature within its project footprint by implementing nature-inclusive design principles and contribute towards sustainable maritime spatial planning. Despite emitting lower carbon emissions compared to fossil-based energy (Chambel et al., 2024), wind energy still offers opportunities for optimisation, such as during the installation of its foundations. The Joint Industry Project (JIP) SPREE, which consists of Deltares, Wageningen University, Boskalis, Inspire Environmental, RWE, Tennet, Vattenfall, GEOWALL, BAM, Reefy, Coastruction, and Holcim, has evaluated Engineered Reef Unit Solutions (ERUS) and rock as scour protection solutions for offshore wind foundations. Crushed rock aggregates are typically used as a scour protection in marine environments with sandy bottom to maintain their structural integrity. ERUS could potentially be an alternative to rock in regions where rock is scarce and requires long-distance transportation. ERUS can be designed to be multi-functional, including targeting specific ecosystem functions, especially important in regions where regulations mandate nature enhancement in their project footprints. ERUS offer flexibility in shape, which allows greater surface area and complexity, that have the potential to create microhabitats and facilitate substrate attachments by primary producers, benthic life, and other umbrella species. The project’s research focused on the comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of ERUS and rock as scour protection solutions. In addition to the LCA, other considerations relevant to installation, stability, and the ecological enhancement functions of each solution were discussed to identify further emission reduction opportunities.
No recording available for this poster.
