Subsea cable and pipeline protection project in Scotland

Conventional concrete mattresses are a popular form of protection for coastal and subsea cables and pipelines. However, they not only emit high levels of carbon but also provide minimal habitat value and require costly decommissioning.

The NICE project aims to evaluate the ecological impact of ‘standard’ versus Nature Inclusive Designed (NID) subsea cable protection technologies. It also seeks to explore the potential for long-term biodiversity benefits, contributing valuable insights to regulatory policy on NID principles for future offshore energy developments.

Four of our carbon-neutral and plastic-free Reef mats were deployed at the MeyGen tidal array off the coast of Scotland.

These are a sustainable and biodiversity-enhancing alternative to conventional protective concrete mattresses. They feature a nature inclusive design (NID) which features a complex surface texture designed to support marine life.

Funded by The Crown Estate’s Offshore Wind Evidence and Change (OWEC) Programme, deployed by Leask Marine Ltd, and with the support of Cefas, our Reef mats now safeguard the seabed.