The Innovations in Coastal Care program has led to nine promising innovations aimed at making Dutch coastal maintenance more sustainable. These innovations, developed in collaboration with Rijkswaterstaat and market parties, were presented at InfraTech 2025 in Rotterdam.
Coastal maintenance is crucial for protecting the Netherlands against the sea. The goal is to make this maintenance climate-neutral and circular, requiring innovative approaches.
Since 2018, efforts have been underway to implement sustainable sand maintenance techniques. This has resulted in nine promising proposals that underwent research and development.
Various Methods
Innovations have reached different stages of development. Royal IHC demonstrated the feasibility of building a dredger powered by liquid hydrogen. Waardenburg Ecology developed the Sand Wing, which uses sea currents to move sand to desired locations. Jan de Nul explored the ULEv technique, using filters and catalysts to significantly reduce emissions.
Promising Outcomes
The program not only focused on the technical aspects of innovations but also on their integration into existing practices and environments. The knowledge gained will further enhance sustainable dredging efforts.
Fruitful Partnerships
Willy Dekker, Director at Rijkswaterstaat, expressed enthusiasm about the program and the productive collaborations. The expertise and inventiveness within the sector are commendable, setting a positive outlook for future sustainability efforts.