HZ University of Applied Sciences

HZ University of Applied Sciences was identified as one of the implementing partners supporting the Ecoscour pilot at the Borssele Offshore Wind Farm (Site V). The project tested eco-friendly scour protection solutions intended to stabilise seabed conditions around bottom-fixed wind turbines while also enhancing habitat complexity and biodiversity, including measures to encourage European flat oyster settlement and reef development. HZ University of Applied Sciences contributed to the collaborative monitoring and learning programme that accompanied installation of the nature-inclusive scour protection designs. This monitoring work was described as involving repeated offshore assessment of placed materials and structures, with sampling and observation supporting evaluation of oyster survival, settlement success, and wider benthic community responses to different substrate types and structural geometries. The pilot combined practical offshore deployment with applied research and knowledge sharing, aiming to produce replicable approaches that can be integrated into standard foundation protection packages for offshore wind farms. By participating in a live offshore operating environment at Borssele V, HZ supported the translation of monitoring data into implementable guidance for future projects. The programme was reported as ongoing, with findings shared through publications and continued follow-up through to the end of the monitoring period. HZ’s involvement aligned with the project’s stated objective of strengthening evidence for nature-inclusive offshore wind design in the Dutch North Sea.