French energy major TotalEnergies and offshore wind expert RWE have signed a new agreement with ARC marine.

The marine infrastructure company will now provide 66 reef cubes at a planned offshore windfarm called OranjeWind being established in the Dutch North Sea.

After the initial construction of the farm is finished, the reef cubes will be put in position at 11 separate turbine foundations. To date, this endeavour will be among the most significant rollouts of artificial reef structures to a North Sea wind farm.

As the project has a nature-inclusive design, the companies involved plan to further improve the provision of habitats to support marine life and local biodiversity.

Once deployed, the cubes will form a surface habitat of 1440 metres squared. Each cube is 1.5 metres tall and close to 6000 kilograms in weight. They are manufactured using recycled materials that are low-carbon and certified as safe to use in a marine environment. To promote habitat formation of the area’s native oyster settlement, shell materials have been included in construction of the deployments that have a cuboid shape by design for increased stability, streamlined transport and simpler installation. Designed for long-term use, the cubes will stay in place for the entire active service life of the OranjeWind windfarm.

Wind farms require a steady supply of turbine oil and other lubricants to keep equipment operating effectively. Specialised greases and oil lubricate crucial components such as gear boxes, pitch systems and bearings to manage heat and mitigate friction, preventing wear and making sure that turbines can work efficiently for their often-lengthy lifespans.

The foundations for the future project will begin in 2026 and the windfarm is expected to reach completion in 2028.