Producing energy in a cleaner, more sustainable way has been on the agenda of most countries with the 7th goal of the UN sustainable development goals targeting an increase of renewable energy by 2030. Offshore energy generation is one of the most promising sectors to help phase out the use of environmentally damaging fossil fuels. In accordance with the EU Strategy for Offshore Renewable Energy, the rapidly growing sector is set to increase Europe’s offshore wind capacity from its current level of 12 GW to at least 60 GW by 2030 and to 300 GW by 2050. The promises of using offshore energy are plenty: Offshore wind produces clean energy, offers new business opportunities, more green jobs across the continent become available and the EU’s leadership in offshore energy technologies grows stronger. 

The advantages of using offshore renewable energy are quite amazing, yet one easily overlooked issue is the strain offshore energy production is set to have on the marine environment.  Generating offshore energy that is truly sustainable is only possible once it is ensured that it is produced with the environment and life below water in mind. ARC Marine is offering the solutions to ensure our growing need for reusable energy does not come at a cost for our oceans.

The blue economy 

Already representing roughly 5.4 million jobs and generating a value of almost €500 Billion a year, the ‘blue economy’ still promises to grow with as much as €800 Billion to be spent on offshore energy over the coming forty years across the EU. The sector is set to grow rapidly and therefore paving the way for a more sustainable, clean energy sector. However, offshore energy generation poses an added strain on the marine environment, making it more important than ever to invest in ‘nature-inclusive designs’ that do not harm the underwater environment further.

Using one of the 17 Sustainable development goals, SDG14, the UN goal for Life Below Water as a measure of their commitment to meet their objectives, ARC Marine advocates for sustainable practices across their value chain to improve marine conservation and spread corporate social responsibility. 

Man-made solutions to man-made problems

To keep our oceans healthy, ARC Marine have designed environmentally and ethically sound products that are designed in the most sustainable way possible. Their product portfolio is made up of carbon-neutral, plastic free products that protect the marine environment, reduce CO2 emissions, repurpose waste material and offer long-term solutions for nature-inclusive offshore energy generation, promising not only to protect our oceans but to help bring them back to their former glory. 

Arc Marine’s Reef Cubes promise not only to accelerate reef growth, they also stand in for artificial plastic-based reefs that are commonly used to secure turbines and protect underwater technologies for wind farms. Unlike their plastic counterparts, Reef Cubes don’t need to be removed from the ocean as they are biodegradable and do not harm the marine environment. Furthermore, the Cubes provide nursing grounds and shelter for underwater creatures, showing remarkable results for shellfish farming and collaborating with The Rich North Sea to further scope out the advantages Reef Cubes offer. 

With sea levels rising and the effects of climate change threatening ocean biodiversity, it is more important than ever to protect the marine environment and accelerate reef creation to make sure the blue economy grows in an environmentally friendly way. Therefore combining the production of clean energy with marine protection to ensure healthy oceans seems to be one of the most effective ways to achieve a greener future for both life on land and underwater. 

By Teresa Ehrlich