Nature inclusive design at Hollandse Kust Zuid
Nature-inclusive design is an approach in offshore wind that aims to boost ecological functions by integrating features into wind farm structures, making them more suitable for native species.
Short facts
- Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ), Netherlands
- Marine life
- Enhance biodiversity and evaluate benefits of Nature Inclusive Design (NID) measures
- 2021–ongoing
At the Hollandse Kust Zuid (HKZ) offshore wind farm in the Netherlands, Vattenfall has implemented measures to enhance biodiversity as part of its permit obligations.
Each foundation has water replenishment holes to allow marine life to move freely in and out of the hollow foundation, and large rocks were added to the scour protection at nine locations to increase habitat complexity.
Vattenfall will monitor biodiversity development after 2, 6, and 11 years.
In 2024, Vattenfall joined the JIP‑LIFE project, funded through the Top Consortium for Knowledge and Innovation (TKI) programme, together with Deltares, Wageningen Marine Research, The Rich North Sea and Seaward. The project aims to gain a better understanding of the ecological functions provided by the water replenishment holes and how these are governed by hydrodynamic forcing within the monopile interior.
Preliminary findings indicate that, when appropriately sized and configured, water replenishment holes can maintain oxygen and food conditions suitable for a diverse and unique species community to develop.
More about biodiversity
Biodiversity and nature protection are a priority at Vattenfall. It is one of the focus areas in our environmental policy and therefore also a central part in our environmental work.
How we make a difference for nature
Biodiversity is an important and integrated part of our work. Here, we show concrete examples of how we care for nature through our projects.
See also
Nature conservation efforts at Windplanblauw: artificial reefs and resting areas
Windplanblauw is a wind energy project located in the province of Flevoland in central Netherlands.
Multi-use concept, combining food production with offshore wind farms
At Vattenfall’s Danish Kriegers Flak (DKF) and Vesterhav Syd (VHS) offshore wind farms, a Danish research consortium is testing the multi-use concept of producing food alongside fossil-free ...
Restoration of Juktån
The river Juktån served as a timber transport route in the early 20th century.