As part of the development of the Princess Elisabeth Island, Elia and its scientific partners explore how large-scale offshore infrastructure can contribute to biodiversity through Nature-Inclusive Design (NID). One of the NID measures proposed was the installation of breeding structures to support a durable colony of Black-legged kittiwakes on the island walls. However, the ambition to establish this solution had to be ultimately abandoned due to substantial cost increases and operational safety concerns that affected the project’s viability. Despite this setback, partners remain fully committed to implementing impactful NID measures and advancing sustainable solutions for the marine environment. Other measures of the energy island’s NID plan are progressing well.
What is Nature-Inclusive Design in the context of the Princess Elisabeth Island?
Nature-Inclusive Design (NID) is a collaborative effort to integrate ecological expertise into the design and construction of the energy island, aiming to enhance biodiversity both above and below water. More specifically, biodiversity-enhancing elements are incorporated directly into human infrastructure. Rather than building in opposition to nature, NID fosters coexistence and creates opportunities for flora and fauna to thrive in environments shaped by human activity.
For the Princess Elisabeth Island, several NID measures were developed in collaboration with marine ecology and conservation experts:
- Storm Wall Ledges for Cliff-Nesting Birds: Nesting and resting areas for seabirds like the black-legged kittiwake.
- Relief Panels in the Deep Subtidal Zone: 3D panels offering shelter and attachment surfaces for marine organisms.
- Chaotic Scour Protection with Complex Edges: Creating diverse habitats for marine species.
- Oyster reefs: Promoting European flat oyster restoration.
- Strategically Placed Boulders: Enhancing habitat complexity.
- Preservation and Integration of Natural Gravel Beds: Ensuring ecological continuity with the original seabed.
These measures reflect a shared commitment to building resilient, sustainable infrastructure that respects and enhances the surrounding ecosystem.
The NID4BirdLIFE Project
Launched in 2024, the NID4BirdLIFE initiative, in which Elia teamed up with the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS), the Research Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO) and the Renewables Grid Initiative, aimed to support the black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) population in the North Sea. This was to be achieved through the integration of nesting ledges into the island’s wave walls to establish a durable breeding colony on the Princess Elisabeth Island.
Despite the ecological ambition and collaborative efforts invested, which led to an approved technical design, two major risks emerged that significantly compromised the global viability of the project:
- Substantial Cost Increase: Procurement and installation costs for bird ledges tripled over time, also threatening the possible budget allocation to other NID measures (which should have been reduced in scope).
- Bird Strike Risk: The attractiveness of birds results in an unavoidable residual risk for helicopter operations, conflicting with the ALARP (As Low As Reasonably Practicable) principle required for helideck certification.
While mitigation efforts were extensively explored — including INBO’s new evaluation of the minimum ledge lengths which is still of interest — Elia could not justify allocating such a large share of the budget to a single NID measure, while ledges could still not be used at the end.
Faced with these constraints, the NID4BirdLIFE project had to be stopped
This decision was not taken lightly and reflects the complex realities of pioneering infrastructure projects. The consortium acknowledges the concerns raised by INBO regarding the ecological depth of the risk assessment and remains committed to transparency and collaboration.
Looking ahead
As they remain involved in other parts of the NID plan monitoring, consortium partners reaffirm their commitment to implementing the remaining NID measures, as agreed upon with ecological experts. The support of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) and all stakeholders throughout the NID4BirdLIFE project has been invaluable.
The pioneering nature of the NID strategy remains central to the consortium’s vision for the energy island. Together, we will continue to explore viable, impactful solutions that promote biodiversity and contribute to a sustainable marine environment.
Despite the early ending of the project, through the stakeholder engagement activities led by RGI, the consortium has produced a State-of-the-art report on ‘Innovative Nature-Inclusive Design solutions for Birdlife near offshore energy infrastructure’. This report summarises the main challenges and potential solutions identified by stakeholders and sets out proposed principles to support more effective implementation in future projects. The NID4BirdLIFE project helped initiate the discussions on the topic, which RGI commits to continue with key stakeholders in the future, through the Offshore Coalition for Energy and Nature (OCEaN).
contact
Manon Thiel
manon[at]renewables-grid.euManager – Energy and Nature
Manon Thiel
manon[at]renewables-grid.euManager – Energy and Nature
