Next generation coastal protection with Bio-based Electrochemical Artificial Reefs(BEARs)

以生物为基础的电化学人工礁(BEAR)项目将开发一种具有成本效益的、长期具有弹性的解决方案，以应对全球海岸保护方面最紧迫的挑战。该项目旨在用生物基材料取代CCell珊瑚礁中的钢材，以降低成本、碳足迹和供应短缺的风险，同时保持当前CCell珊瑚礁的侵蚀缓解。CCell珊瑚礁寻求模仿天然珊瑚礁和牡蛎礁的波浪衰减特性，在波浪到达海岸之前消散海浪能量和破碎海浪，从而保护海岸免受侵蚀，并将沙子恢复到海滩。电解应用于在珊瑚礁表面形成一层钙质岩石，赋予结构强度，并允许海洋生物附着。随着时间的推移，通过在岩石上补充牡蛎、珊瑚或贻贝，这个结构演变成一个自我修复的活珊瑚礁，保护鱼类和底栖动物。熊项目扩展了我们现有的CCell珊瑚礁技术，并启动了我们对下一代海岸保护技术的创新材料的研究。该项目与巴斯大学合作，旨在提供：*利用海水电解生长岩石非导电生物表面的优化程序。*通过设计和建造生物基礁来证明熊的概念，以实现与当前CCell珊瑚礁相同的波浪衰减。*在朴茨茅斯大学海洋场地进行为期6个月的初步测试。*成熟熊原型的波浪衰减特性和生物多样性指数。本项目成功将大大减少海岸保护干预措施的成本和环境影响。这反过来将消除经济限制，并导致更具包容性和更广泛可用的海岸线管理解决方案。

The Bio-based Electrochemical Artificial Reef (BEAR) project will develop a cost-effective, long-term resilient solution to face the most pressing challenges of coastal protection worldwide. The project aims to replace the use of steel in CCell Reefs with bio-based materials to reduce costs, carbon footprint, and risk of supply shortages while maintaining the erosion mitigation of current CCell Reefs.CCell Reefs seek to mimic the wave attenuation properties of natural coral and oyster reefs, dissipating wave energy and breaking waves before they reach the shore, thereby protecting coasts from erosion and restoring sand to the beach.Electrolysis is applied to form a calcareous layer of rock on the reef surface that confers strength to the structure and allows the attachment of marine organisms. Over time, through the recruitment of oysters, corals or mussels on the rock, the structure evolves into a self-healing, living reef that protects fish and benthic animals. The BEAR project expands on our existing CCell Reef technology and launches our research in innovative materials for next-generation coastal protection technology.In collaboration with the University of Bath the project aims to deliver:* An optimised procedure to grow rock non-conductive bio-based surfaces using seawater electrolysis.* Proof of the BEAR concept by designing and constructing a bio-based reef to achieve the same wave attenuation of current CCell Reefs.* A 6-month pilot test at the Marine Site at the University of Portsmouth.* Characterisation of the wave attenuation properties and biodiversity index of the mature BEAR prototype.The success of this project would drastically reduce both the cost and environmental impact of coastal protection interventions. This in turn will remove economic limitations and lead to more inclusive and widely available shoreline management solutions.