Offshore wind energy is gaining traction across the globe at an unprecedented rate due to a reduction in costs and potential for scale-up, but the subsea protection this development requires could have a wide impact on the marine environment.

A new era of eco-friendly subsea protection mattresses and scour protection, designed and manufactured by ARC Marine, is here to offer a solution with its patented biodiversity-enhancing designs.

Expanding Offshore Wind Energy

The subject of climate is under the spotlight like never before and countries across the world are setting ambitious renewable energy targets.

A bold goal of deploying a wind operation capable of producing 30 GW of offshore energy by 2030 was set by the Biden-Harris administration, with them stating it would be enough to power 10 million homes with clean energy, support 77,000 jobs, and spur investment throughout the supply chain.

Meanwhile, in Europe, wind as a renewable energy source is a mainstay of the EU goal to be climate-neutral by 2050, intending to reach 300 GW of offshore wind energy by then.

Fixed and floating offshore wind is one of the fastest-growing energy markets in the world and with a global scale-up in the works, we must consider the environmental impact below the ocean’s surface.

Environmental Impact of Traditional Subsea Protection

Offshore wind farms must protect their subsea structures and cables from anchors, trawl gear, as well as waves and currents which lead to scouring. However, the installation of traditional subsea protection comes with a host of unfavorable environmental impacts:

• Biodiversity loss – construction disrupts habitat and subsea protection offers little opportunity for biodiversity to return.
• Limited habitat capacity – due to minimal niches for marine life to inhabit.
• High CO2 emissions – traditional scour protection is shipped large distances and concrete mattresses contain portland cement, which is responsible for 7% of global CO2 emissions.
• Releasing plastics into the marine environment – traditional mattresses contain an average of 140 meters of plastic rope plus plastic fibers.

These are the problems solved by ARC Marine, an award-winning start-up, which specializes in accelerating reef creation through carbon neutral subsea protection that’s plastic-free, boosts biodiversity, and is so marine-friendly that it can stay beneath the waves forever.

ARC Marine is Unique

ARC Marine is the only one in the world to produce subsea protection that is carbon-neutral, absent of portland cement, and plastic-free. Acting as the perfect substrate for marine flora and fauna, ARC Marine’s reef cubes and Marine Matt not only minimize the environmental impact of marine projects but actively enhance the marine ecosystem.

ARC Marine subsea protection promotes marine biodiversity. (Image credit: ARC Marine)

They contain no portland cement or plastic, consist of 98% recycled materials, can be made carbon neutral from the point of manufacture, and hold the opportunity to manufacture locally, boosting local supply chain content.

Scientifically backed, the Nature Inclusive Design (NID) of the technology was created by a team of marine scientists and engineers to enable developers to deliver net biodiversity gain objectives (they offer 1.5x the habitat capacity compared to granite), whilst achieving efficient, low-cost construction.

ARC Marine’s solutions in action. (Image credit: ARC Marine)

Marine Matts are nearing the end of a rigorous trial project that looks at development, manufacturing, deployment, and certification in partnership with Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) and will soon be ready for the market.

As offshore wind energy begins an industrialized global scale-up, these subsea protection solutions are set to change the face of the industry by boosting biodiversity and ensuring offshore wind’s green credentials both above and below the world’s oceans.

For more information, visit: www.arcmarine.co.uk.

This feature appeared in Environment, Coastal & Offshore (ECO) Magazine's 2022 Winter edition, to read more access the magazine here.