The project
Bringing together Energy, Ocean life and Humans
We firmly believe that the development of green energies has become a real need for mankind in order to get out of our dependency on fossil fuels and thus succeed in our energy transition. In this context, offshore wind turbines, one of our most advanced solutions, are facing strong resistance from local populations and fishermen who see them as a barrier to their activities.
The Enereef project was born in March 2022 when we came up with the idea of designing an optimised artificial reef, promoting the development of marine life and biodiversity and adapting it to the base of offshore wind turbines.
Our reefs, placed in protected areas within the offshore wind farms, will increase the complexity of the habitat, leading to colonisation by algae, then by fixed fauna and gradually by a large number of invertebrate and fish species. A complete and resilient ecosystem will be created and a synergistic effect will take place between the reefs placed under the different turbines of the same farm.
As fish density increases within the area, a “spillover effect” will allow local fishermen to see their catches increase all around.
We have opted for a modular system, which we can adapt to local conditions.
A scientific monitoring will be put in place to test the effects on biodiversity and the impact on fisheries, so that we can continually improve our reef system.
The three key points
To compensate for the impact on biodiversity of the installation of offshore wind turbines, by creating, for each new structure installed, a new marine ecosystem
To increase the approval of fishermen and local communities for offshore wind turbines. Fishermen will have access to a more sustainable fishery thanks to the spillover effect that our reef will create all around the area
To counter the effect of global warming by restoring the lost biodiversity of our oceans
We offer to offshore wind farms the opportunity to...
Deepen their sustainable approach
By helping to restore biodiversity and protect a large number of marine organisms
Increase fishermen's approval
Fishermen see wind turbines as an obstacle to their activity. By adding this Enereef artificial reef, the increase in biomass and fish density will benefit them
Have a compensation solution within the approach "Avoid-Reduce-Compensate"
To comply with environmental regulations, measures must be implemented to avoid, reduce or compensate for the effects of wind farms on marine ecosystems. The improvement of species habitat through this artificial reef is a compensation measure for the impacts that wind turbines have on invertebrates and fish during construction
Have an erosion protection while promoting biodiversity
Offshore wind turbines need to be protected against the erosion phenomenon that can be generated by the oceanic currents. Until now, rocks have been used for this purpose. The Enereef structure will protect the base of the wind turbine while promoting a much more diverse ecosystem
Stand out during tenders
Enereef will allow offshore wind projects to differentiate themselves from their competitors on a key point today : the preservation of the environment