Ecowende
Measurements under water are essential to expanding our knowledge of the North Sea ecosystem. For Ecowende, WaterProof has set up a research programme that fills gaps in our understanding of North Sea underwater ecology, based on measurements of underwater sound, electromagnetic fields, currents, sand waves and the presence of marine mammals, among others.
- Client: Ecowende
- Location: Offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust West (HKW)
- Project period: 2022 - 2031
Ecowende, a collaboration between Shell, Chubu and Eneco, is developing the most ecological offshore wind farm at Hollandse Kust West. The wind farm is being built with a wide range of measures to limit negative effects on ecology and to encourage positive ones. A monitoring and research programme has been set up to gain more insight into the ecology of the North Sea and to assess how effective the implemented measures are. This research provides essential knowledge for striking a balance between sustainable energy generation and nature conservation in the North Sea.
Underwater sound
Sound is highly important to marine mammals, fish and other marine life for orientation, communication and finding prey. Harbour porpoises and seals are known to be affected by the sound emitted by human activities, such as the construction of a wind farm. Innovative installation methods and mitigation measures were applied during the construction of the Ecowende wind farm to keep this disturbance to a minimum. WaterProof carries out measurements with a network of 14 seabed frames to establish the characteristics and levels of the sound before, during and after construction of the wind farm.
It is not only anthropogenic sounds that are monitored. Fish, crustaceans and marine mammals all produce sound and form part of the North Sea soundscape. The presence and behaviour of cetaceans, such as the harbour porpoise, are also studied using sensors on the seabed frames and by means of innovative measurement techniques.
Detailed measurements were conducted during the installation of the foundations. These provide more insight into the sound characteristics of the innovative installation methods, the propagation of sound its effects on marine life.
Hydro- and morphodynamics
For Ecowende, WaterProof also studies the hydro- and morphodynamics of the HKW area. Knowledge of the dynamics of sandbanks, sand waves and megaripples on the seabed is important for burying power cables and positioning wind turbines and also offers more insight into habitat suitability for reef-building species such as Sabellaria worms. WaterProof investigates the dynamics of the seabed using high-resolution bathymetric surveys. A validated 3D hydrodynamic model is then used to relate these dynamics to waves and tidal currents.
Further information about the monitoring and research programme can be found on the Ecowende website.
Take a look at our other projects
Effects of Electromagnetic Fields on Harbour Porpoises
The installed export cables that connect offshore wind farms to the mainland generate electromagnetic fields (EMF) due to the amount of electricity flowing through the cables. These EMF may potentially affect marine life in the immediate vicinity of the cables. To determine and better understand the potential effects of EMF on the acoustic activity of harbour porpoises, we work together with Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) and Witteveen+Bos on various measurement campaigns and analysis studies.
Ecowende
Ecowende, a collaboration between Shell, Chubu and Eneco, is developing north-west Europe’s most environmentally friendly offshore wind farm at Hollandse Kust West. To minimise the impact on the marine ecosystem, extensive research is being carried out by WaterProof on the presence and behaviour of porpoises and underwater noise levels during the construction and operation of the wind farm. This research will provide essential knowledge for balancing sustainable energy production and nature conservation in the North Sea.
Flow and sediment transport with an innovative sand wing
Annually, approximately sand nourishments with a total volume of 12 million cubic meters strengthen the Dutch coastline. Projections indicate that this amount will be insufficient in the near future to ensure the safety of the Netherlands due to climate change and the related rise in sea levels. Within the program ‘Innovatie in de Kustlijnzorg’ (IKZ), WaterProof is collaborating with Waardenburg Ecologie and the University of Groningen (RUG) on an innovation called ‘Sand Wing.’ Through scale experiments and modelling, it is being investigated whether the Sand Wing can serve as an alternative to the conventional method of beach nourishment along the coast
