Low carbon marine eco engineering

该项目的目的是开发一个名为生态礁的新型低碳人工礁的商业化供应链，作为海洋基础设施的冲刷保护，同时提供生物多样性净收益。我们的目标是开发和证明大规模制造能力和海上大规模部署方法，以减少碳排放和增加海洋多样性。这是一个复杂和创新的领域，市场上现有的产品尚未实现。目前市场上的人工鱼礁是单独部署的，通过绞车将单个单元下放到海底，耗时且昂贵。因此，可在海上部署的生态礁单元的商业化将构成一项重大创新，可能促进海上风电场人工礁生态冲刷系统的增加。通过大规模部署Eco Reef装置，部署成本降低，使人工礁生态冲刷保护成为风电场安装商、运营商和承包商更可行的选择，作为实现海上风电场生物多样性净收益的一种手段。Eco Reefs利用Exo Engineering的创新方法将废物和回收材料融入我们的产品中，将采石和建筑行业的疏浚沉积物或废物聚集体转化为可行的生境改善产品。与传统混凝土相比，这种方法可以节省17%的碳。我们将与行业合作伙伴密切合作，并与学术界合作，以确保商业化的稳健途径。

The aim of the project is to develop a commercialised supply chain of novel low carbon artificial reefs called Eco Reefs that act as scour protection for marine infrastructure, whilst delivery biodiversity net gain. We aim to develop and evidence mass manufacturing capabilities and mass deployment methods at sea with the aims to reduce carbon emissions and increase marine diversity. This is a complex and innovative area that has not yet been achieved by existing products on the market.Currently artificial reefs available on the market are deployed individually, in a time consuming and costly manor by winching single units down to the sea floor. Therefore, the commercialisation of Eco Reef units that can be deployed en-masse would constitute a significant innovation, potentially catalysing increased uptake of artificial reef eco scour systems for offshore windfarms. By mass deploying Eco Reef units, the cost of deployment is reduced, resulting in artificial reef eco scour protection becoming a more viable option for windfarm installers, operators, and contractors as a means to achieve biodiversity net gain in offshore wind farms.Eco Reefs utilise Exo Engineering's innovative method to incorporate waste and recycled materials into our products, turning dredged sediment or waste aggregate from the quarrying and construction sectors, into viable, habitat enhancing products. This approach results in a 17% carbon saving compared to conventional concrete.We will work closely work with industry partners and collaborate with academics to ensure a robust pathway to commercialisation.