The first-of-its-kind ReCoral by rsted project aims to implement a non-invasive approach for restoring the health of coral reef ecosystems by growing healthy coral colonies on the foundations of offshore wind turbines.

Danish sustainable energy company rsted is planning a world-firstattempt to support coral reefs by growing corals on offshore wind turbinefoundations. Together with Taiwanese partners, the company will test the conceptin the tropical waters of Taiwan this summer. The goal is to determinewhether corals can be successfully grown on offshore wind turbine foundationsand to evaluate the potential positive biodiversity impact of scaling up theinitiative.

According to the UN EnvironmentProgramme,coral reefs provide habitat for an estimated 32 percent of all marine speciesand benefit 1 billion people worldwide, directly or indirectly. But increasedsea temperatures due to climate change and common chemicals in products such assunscreenare threatening the survival of tropical coral reefecosystems,adding to the global biodiversity crisis.

Climate change is becoming the biggest driver of biodiversity loss, and asubstantial expansion of offshore wind is central to tackling these interlinkedcrises. Governments are planning a significant build-out of green energyinfrastructure at sea; if done right, rsted believes the expansion of offshorewind energy needed to fight climate change can also integrate solutions thatsupport and enhance oceanbiodiversity.

The ReCoral byrstedproject aims to implement a non-invasive approach for collecting surplusindigenous coral spawn as it washes ashore and for growing healthy coralcolonies on the foundations of nearby offshore wind turbines.

Increased surface temperatures in shallow waters can lead to coral bleaching.At offshore wind farm locations further offshore, temperatures are more stabledue to vertical mixing in the water column, preventing extreme temperatureincreases.

The idea behind ReCoral is that the relatively stable water temperatures atoffshore wind farm locations will limit the risk of coral bleaching and allowhealthy corals to grow on wind turbine foundations. Corals will be grown closeto the water's surface to ensure sufficient sunlight.

In 2020, biologists and marine specialists in rsted teamed up with private andacademic coral experts to mature and test the concept. In 2021, the ReCoral teamsuccessfully grew juvenile corals on underwater steel and concrete substrates ata quayside test facility for the first time. The first trial will begin in Juneat the Greater Changhua offshore wind farms in Taiwan to test the concept inopen waters on four separate wind turbine foundations.

Governments are preparing a significant expansion of offshore wind energy;and Im confident that if done right, the offshore wind build-out can supportand enhance ocean biodiversity, says Mads Nipper, Group President and CEO ofrsted. If we succeed with ReCoral and the concept proves to be scalable,this rsted innovation could create a significant positive impact on oceanbiodiversity.

Together with the Penghu Marine Biology Research Center in Taiwan, rstedhas developed a non-invasive methodology for coral seeding, in vitrofertilization, larvae transport and larvae attachment to wind turbinefoundations. Rather than removing anything from existing coral ecosystems,ReCorals non-invasive approach relies on the collection of surplus coral-eggbundles that wash up on shorelines and would not otherwise survive.

If the trial is successful, rsted will explore opportunities for scaling up theinitiative with the ultimate aim of using additional coral larvae generated atoffshore wind farm locations to restore and enhance threatened near-shore reefsystems. Scaling the initiative could also be critical in helping rsted achieveits ambition to deliver a net-positive impact onbiodiversityacross all of its new energy projects, from 2030 at the latest.

Were excited to take part in such a great initiative and partner up with theworlds most significant player in offshore wind, says Hern-Yi Hsieh,Director of Penghu Marine Biology Research Center. Environmental protectionand marine biodiversity will continue to be one of the key topics of the worldin the coming decade. Were honored to participate in the project, and we lookforward to more such initiatives in the future.

The ReCoral concept could be applied to offshore foundations of any kind intropical waters around the world. rsted will share learnings and the techniqueswith the broader coral conservation community and with other wind farmdevelopers, expecting that the findings will be useful regardless of whether theReCoral pilot succeeds.

Published May 10, 2022 2pm EDT / 11am PDT / 7pm BST / 8pm CEST

Link:

rsted Trials Turning Offshore Wind Turbine Foundations Into Safe Havens For Corals - Sustainable Brands