Narrative :
The Eco GBF project is an R&D initiative funded by VLAIO (Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship), focused on developing sustainable offshore wind foundation solutions. The project brings together a diverse consortium of partners including Subsea Structures (3ST), Jan De Nul, Iemants, Multi Engineering, and HAEDES, who also acts as project coordinator. HAEDES leads three key work packages: WP3 on scour protection, WP4 on environmental impact and ecosystem services, and WP5 on overall project coordination. The primary objective of the project is to raise the ECO GBF concept to Technology Readiness Level 3 (TRL 3).
Eco GBF (Gravity Based Foundation), is an innovative economic and ecological type of offshore wind foundation that relies on ballast to remain stable on the seabed, eliminating the need for piling. This foundation is specifically aimed to combine structural efficiency with ecological functionality. Its design promotes marine biodiversity, minimizes noise during installation, and enables modular construction which in turn simplifies transportation and installation. These characteristics make it a promising alternative to traditional monopile foundations.
HAEDES contributes to the project through technical and environmental expertise. WP3 encompasses the study of scour development around complex foundation geometries and proposes nature-inclusive scour protection strategies. WP4 focuses on environmental impact assessment and the development of a methodology to evaluate ecosystem services provided by Eco GBF. This work package also includes the assessment of the carbon footprint of the structure. HAEDES also is in charge of coordination and overall project management (WP5), ensuring effective collaboration and alignment across the consortium.
Our touch :
Scour Protection Design for Complex Geometries: development of tailored scour protection strategies adapted to non-standard foundation shapes, integrating both physical and ecological performance criteria.
- Nature-Inclusive Engineering: implementation of ecological design principles to enhance biodiversity around the foundation and contribute to marine habitat restoration.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modelling: use of advanced CFD simulations to investigate hydrodynamic behavior and sediment transport around the Eco GBF, supporting the design of optimized scour protection.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): coordination and execution of a comprehensive EIA, including hydrodynamic, ecological, and morphological impacts of the Eco GBF system.
Ecosystem Service Valuation (ESV): development of a dedicated internal tool to identify, quantify, and communicate the added ecological and socio-economic value provided by the Eco GBF.
- Carbon Footprint Analysis: lifecycle-based assessment of the carbon emissions associated with the foundation design, installation, and operation phases, supporting low-carbon innovation.
- Cross-WP Integration & Project
Coordination: ensuring synergy across technical, environmental, and design tasks through structured coordination, knowledge sharing, and milestone tracking.