Reef Cubes® Deployment Announced for OranjeWind as RWE and TotalEnergies Advance Biodiversity-Positive Offshore Strategy

credit: ARC marine

(IN BRIEF) RWE and TotalEnergies have partnered with ARC Marine to supply 66 Reef Cubes® for installation at the OranjeWind offshore wind farm in the Dutch North Sea. The artificial reefs will be positioned around 11 turbine foundations on top of scour protection and are intended to support marine biodiversity. Made from recycled low-carbon materials and designed with textures and cavities that attract sea life, the structures will create over 1,400 m² of new habitat. Cod and oysters will serve as focal species with the expectation of broader ecosystem benefits. Company leaders highlighted the project as a milestone in scaling nature-inclusive offshore wind design. OranjeWind will begin offshore construction in 2026 and is slated to be operational in 2028, powering approximately one million homes.

(PRESS RELEASE) UTRECHT, 5-Dec-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — RWE and TotalEnergies have taken another step toward building nature-inclusive offshore energy infrastructure through a new agreement with ARC Marine for the delivery of 66 Reef Cubes®, which will be installed at the OranjeWind offshore wind project in the Dutch North Sea. The artificial reef units will be positioned around the foundations of 11 turbines once construction of the wind farm is completed. With installation of foundations set to begin in 2026, this initiative is expected to become one of the largest uses of artificial reef systems within a North Sea wind farm and is aimed at strengthening marine biodiversity in the area.

The nature-centric design strategy involves placing Reef Cubes® on top of scour protection, creating underwater structures that serve as long-term habitats for marine species. In total, the deployment will provide around 1,440 m² of habitat surface. Each cube weighs nearly 6 tonnes, stands 1.5 metres high, and is produced using low-carbon materials, including recycled components and shell fragments that encourage native oyster growth. Their cuboid shape is engineered for lasting stability, efficient transport, and simple installation, remaining in place throughout the full operating life of the wind farm.

ARC Marine’s previous trial deployments in the North Sea have already demonstrated strong ecological results, with a range of species settling in and around Reef Cubes®. For OranjeWind, cod and native oysters have been selected as focal species due to their contribution to broader marine ecosystem health. By enhancing habitat availability, the project aims to support a more diverse community of marine organisms over time.

Tobias Keitel, Chief Technology Officer at RWE Offshore, said the project reflects the company’s commitment to biodiversity-positive development. Jean Gavalda, Director Offshore Wind Construction at TotalEnergies, added that integrating reef technology aligns with regulatory guidance and demonstrates how renewable energy infrastructure can coexist with environmental enhancement. ARC Marine CEO Tom Birbeck emphasized that this milestone marks the transition from research-scale trials to commercial deployment, signaling a step change for nature-inclusive offshore wind design.

About OranjeWind

OranjeWind is a joint venture offshore wind development by RWE and TotalEnergies, located 53 km off the Dutch coastline. With a planned capacity of 795 MW, offshore construction will begin in 2026 and commercial operation is targeted for early 2028. The project will generate enough electricity to power around one million households annually.

Further information about the OranjeWind project can be found here.

TotalEnergies and electricity
TotalEnergies is building a competitive portfolio that combines renewables (solar, onshore wind, offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its customers.
As of the end of October 2025, TotalEnergies has more than 32 GW of installed gross renewable electricity generation capacity and aims to reach 35 GW by the end of 2025, and more than 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030.

About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas, biogas and low-carbon hydrogen, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies
places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations.

About RWE
RWE is leading the way to a modern energy world. With its investment and growth strategy, RWE is contributing significantly to the success of the energy transition and the decarbonisation of the energy system. Around 20,000 employees work for the company in almost 30 countries worldwide. RWE is one of the leading companies in the field of renewable energy. RWE is investing billions of euros in expanding its generation portfolio, in particular in offshore and onshore wind, solar energy and batteries. It is perfectly complemented by its global energy trading business. Thanks to its integrated portfolio of renewables, battery storage and flexible generation, as well as its broad project pipeline of possible new builds, RWE is well positioned to address the growing global demand for electricity, particularly driven by further electrification and artificial intelligence. RWE is decarbonising its business in line with the 1.5-degree reduction pathway and will phase out coal by 2030. RWE will be net zero by 2040. Fully in line with the company’s purpose – Our energy for a sustainable life.

About ARC marine
ARC marine is an award-winning UK eco-engineering company pioneering Nature-Inclusive Design (NID) for marine and coastal infrastructure. The company wrote the British Standard PAS 1401:2025 and delivers nature-positive solutions for offshore wind, coastal defence and marine restoration. Its patented Reef cubes®, Reef mats and Reef walls are manufactured using low-carbon, plastic-free materials made from up to 98% recycled content. ARC marine’s mission is to repair and regenerate the world’s marine ecosystems by transforming infrastructure into thriving habitats.

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Media Relations
RWE Benelux
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SOURCE: RWE