RWE and TotalEnergies have signed an agreement with ARC Marine to install 66 innovative Reef Cubes at the OranjeWind offshore wind farm in the Dutch North Sea. The move marks one of the largest deployments of artificial reef structures at a wind farm in the region and underscores a major commitment to nature-inclusive offshore development. Installation of turbine foundations at OranjeWind will begin in 2026, with the Reef Cubes to be placed at 11 selected turbine sites once construction is complete.
The agreement will see 66 Reef Cubes creating 1,440 square meters of new marine habitat. Each unit weighs almost 6,000 kilograms, stands 1.5 meters tall and is built using low-carbon, recycled materials certified as safe for marine ecosystems. The structures incorporate shell materials to support native oyster settlement, enhancing long-term habitat development. Their cuboid design ensures stability, ease of transportation and efficient offshore deployment, with the intention for the structures to remain in place throughout the wind farm’s operational lifetime.
The Reef Cubes are engineered with cavities and textured surfaces to attract a variety of marine flora and fauna. ARC Marine’s previous trials in the North Sea demonstrated strong biodiversity gains, with multiple species colonizing the units. At OranjeWind, cod and native oysters have been identified as key species due to their capacity to generate wider ecological benefits across the ecosystem. By offering shelter and breeding habitat, the project is expected to support a broader marine community and improve ecological resilience in the surrounding area.
Tobias Keitel, Chief Technology Officer at RWE Offshore, said that deploying Reef Cubes aligns directly with RWE’s biodiversity commitments across its project portfolio. Jean Gavalda, Director of Offshore Wind Construction at TotalEnergies, highlighted that the initiative demonstrates how renewable energy development can be integrated with marine protection efforts, supporting new habitats in the North Sea. ARC Marine CEO Tom Birbeck noted that the order signifies a significant shift from trial deployments to full commercial-scale implementation of nature-inclusive design, proving the industry’s ability to combine ecological enhancement with standard offshore construction practices.
OranjeWind is a joint venture project between RWE and TotalEnergies with a planned capacity of 795 megawatts. Located 53 kilometers off the Dutch coast, it is scheduled to begin offshore construction in 2026 and enter full operation in early 2028. Once complete, the wind farm will generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of one million Dutch households.
Faheema P