Can marine biological concrete promote marine life in offshore wind farms?
Artificial underwater structures often serve an important societal function but can have negative impacts on biodiversity by providing surfaces for colonizing benthic species that are significantly different from those found in natural habitats. The main objective of this project is to conduct a pilot study to test the potential of different materials for the re-establishment of marine life. We have chosen to focus on the quality of concrete (pH and porosity) in this project.
- Project period
- -
- Funders
- Regional Forskningsfond Agder
- Total budget (NOK)
- 350,000
- Research section
- Marine biology
- Contact persons
-
Mats Gunnar Walday
Juan Carlos Farias Pardo
Janne Kim Gitmark
Marta Moyano
About the project
We will use a scientific design to test the properties of different concrete materials in terms of their potential to promote marine life by deploying concrete elements in the sea at two sites in a current offshore wind port and at two sites in ordinary ports in Agder, and then study the colonized communities.
In the first work package, the concrete elements are developed and placed in the sea, in the second work package we study what kind of marine life establishes itself, and in the third work package we will synthesize the results and suggest which concrete is continued in a later larger project.
There is great potential for transferring the concept to the construction of other underwater installations, such as other port developments, structures in the sea and fillings.