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TecnologíaTranscripción
00:00Our seas are set to become the power plants of the future.
00:06To ensure a successful energy transition, the large-scale development of offshore wind production will be key.
00:13The more infrastructure we build, the more interaction there will be with life both on the surface of and below water.
00:21Until now, we have mostly focused on measures we can take after our infrastructure has been built.
00:28Our attention is now shifting.
00:30To ensure our infrastructure is constructed in a manner that promotes a positive influence on marine ecosystems from the start,
00:38we have been collaborating with nature conservation experts from public and private organizations,
00:44universities, consultancies and non-governmental organizations.
00:49This approach is called nature-inclusive design.
00:54The Princess Elizabeth Island is our flagship project.
01:00Situated 45 kilometers off the Belgian coast, this artificial energy hub will include connections to offshore wind farms
01:09and serve as a landing point for additional interconnectors with the UK and Denmark.
01:16What does nature-inclusive design mean in practice?
01:21Let's start by looking at how it will be implemented above water.
01:27The island itself will be surrounded by a flood wall, onto which small ledges will be built.
01:35These will attract black-legged kittiwakes.
01:38This fragile species of seagull lives and predominantly breeds on coasts with rocky cliffs.
01:45Tough man-made structures such as ledges can also be used by them.
01:50Beneath the wall's bullnose, three horizontal structures spaced half a meter apart will create 2.6 kilometers of breeding habitat.
02:00Along with nature experts, we will closely monitor the population's evolution.
02:08Below water, we will create an artificial reef in which marine life will be encouraged to flourish.
02:16According to nature experts, ecosystem approaches are best.
02:20Different ecosystem components must be encouraged to interact as much as possible, creating additional benefits.
02:28In a first phase, the measures we take will be grouped around the four corners of the island to get optimal results.
02:35How will this be implemented?
02:39A diverse and complex scour protection system will be installed around the island.
02:45Fine gravel beds will reinforce the island's corners.
02:50Larger loose stones like boulders will be placed on top of these beds.
02:56The more diverse the habitat, the richer the life will be that settles there.
03:00Additional structures will be installed to serve as an oyster larvae source.
03:04These larvae can then settle within this meticulously designed habitat, kick-starting the formation of a biogenic oyster reef.
03:14Finally, we will also implement measures to give the smooth walls of the island's foundations a more irregular structure.
03:21Relief panels will be attached to the lower parts of the walls.
03:25These will appeal both to small organisms, including crustaceans, larvae and invertebrates,
03:31searching for solid surfaces to attach themselves to, and to small fish seeking shelter and places to forage in.
03:39The artificial reef and associated measures will further protect the island from erosion.
03:44That's a win-win!
03:47There is still much work to do, but the unique co-creation process that we have been undertaking with experts has already yielded several valuable lessons.
03:57The implementation of this approach and monitoring of the progress we make are opening up new possibilities for future projects.
04:08Thank you for watching!