Fugro, a global geo-data specialist, has recently launched the BeWild project in partnership with several organizations to measure biodiversity at offshore wind farms. The initiative aims to develop innovative methodologies and technologies for collecting environmental DNA (eDNA) samples in the North Sea to assess the impact of offshore wind farms on biodiversity and explore ways to enhance marine habitats.
The project partners will collaborate to develop remote marine eDNA collection, analysis, and interpretation capabilities, integrating eDNA sampling into uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). This approach aims to inspect subsea assets and the broader subsea environment while reducing the risk of technical failures and ecological losses, such as habitat loss or fragmentation.
See also: Fugro Awarded Contract for Offshore Wind Farm Site Investigation in Australia
The BeWild project is supported by several partners, including Wageningen University, which will focus on DNA sequencing methodology of marine eDNA, researching the governance of these new forms of automated data collection. Stichting de Rijke Noordzee will explore integrating biodiversity monitoring with regular asset inspection, and Mecal – ATS will develop an improved scour protection system with the potential to enhance biodiversity. Seekable will optimize cable burial monitoring solutions, and CrossWind will provide access to an operational wind farm for testing and investigations.
The project is developed with the Mission-driven Research, Development and Innovation (MOOI) subsidy from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate and implemented by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The BeWild project aims to drive innovation, foster partnerships among key stakeholders, and advance our understanding of offshore wind farm biodiversity. The project will contribute to sustainable offshore energy development and natural environmental protection, securing our energy resources for the future.
