Restoration ecology
Monitoring and surveys
Opportunities for strengthening nature inside offshore wind parks
The BENSO project came to a close in the spring of 2025. The focus of BENSO was the erosion protection, also known as ‘scour protection’, which surrounds both offshore wind turbine foundations (monopiles) and the connecting electricity cables. By developing nature-inclusive erosion protection designs, BENSO aimed to increase the value of offshore wind parks for protecting and strengthening nature.
The development of wind parks brings both positive and negative consequences for the natural environment; this project focused on enhancing the benefits that erosion protection can provide. The presence of this hard substrate on an otherwise sandy sea floor can increase local biodiversity by providing an artificial ‘reef’ structure for local organisms.
Opportunities for strengthening nature
The success of erosion protection as an artificial reef relies on the 3D structure that is created by the process and the type of substrate used to make the protective layer. Within the BENSO project, the following 5 steps were formulated in order to arrive at a nature-inclusive design for erosion protection:
- Increase the variation in the size of stones that are used.
- Use different types of material (stones, wood and other natural material).
- Use structures that have a large surface area, but at the same time create lots of small open spaces.
- Strike a balance between technical requirements and optimal design for biodiversity (trait-based industrial design).
- Research the possibility of not placing a filter layer under the armour layer of the erosion protection in order to stimulate direct interaction with the organisms living on the sea floor.
Drop-cam and erosion protection
Lowering the drop-cam overboard to create a clear picture
Innovative monitoring techniques
In order to study the success of a nature-inclusive design for erosion protection, innovative monitoring techniques are needed. Within the BENSO project, the team were on the look-out for accessible technology that could be easily used by technicians and maintenance personnel employed by the wind park.
For example, the team found that the drop-cam was a good alternative for a ROV, giving clear images of the different types of substrate on the sea floor.
The baited camera attracted local marine life such as fish and crabs and allowed the researchers to capture these animals clearly on the screen.
An unmanned vessel (UAV) offers opportunities for monitoring sea mammals (by recording sound) and water quality. Lastly, with the ‘DOME”, researchers can measure the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between small marine organisms (macrofauna) and the water.
As such, a variety of different monitoring techniques that can support different fields of research are already available.
For example, the team found that the drop-cam was a good alternative for a ROV, giving clear images of the different types of substrate on the sea floor.
The baited camera attracted local marine life such as fish and crabs and allowed the researchers to capture these animals clearly on the screen.
An unmanned vessel (UAV) offers opportunities for monitoring sea mammals (by recording sound) and water quality. Lastly, with the ‘DOME”, researchers can measure the exchange of oxygen and nutrients between small marine organisms (macrofauna) and the water.
As such, a variety of different monitoring techniques that can support different fields of research are already available.
Download the report via the link below:
BENSO, scour protection design for biodiversity enhancement in North Sea Offshore Wind
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