Urban Ecosystem
- Phased development strategy for Lydd
Project explores a town scale energy self-sufficiency concept where the adaptable infrastructure helps with the preparation for the future scenario of the shoreline recession. Located at the flood-planes of Dungeness (UK), the small town of Lydd was taken as a case study for a comprehensive development strategy. The proposal incorporates an investigation into the managed retreat, see farming and the biomass production.
In the envisaged strategy, the coastal areas of UK will be employing a clean energy program based on the sea farming. In combination with the wave power generation, seaweed farms and the biomass combustion will supply renewable energy to the coastal areas of Britain complying with the set UK sustainability goals. Project located in Dungeness is to serve as a pilot scheme for a larger system running from test stages to full operation mode in 2060.
Introduction of aquaculture in the area is to address a complex set of existing local environmental and socio-economic problems. The nearby nuclear power plant closure set for 2030, not only marks a significant shift from non renewable power supply but also leads to a substantial job loss - introduction of the new industry will act as an response to this problem. To tackle the recurring flooding damages, seaweed will be used as a natural erosion barrier facilitating the managed retreat - similarly to mangroves, seaweed can act as an effective natural barrier and reduce the force of the storm surge and bring down rate of the erosion.
Project phasing
Project is proposed to phased over the 50 years until it reaches the full operation stage and secures the energy self sufficiency for the town. The rising sea levels will be a crucial factor in the timing of the particular phases. From an experiment, over time, scheme develops into a commercial project, during the time gradually a larger part of the community is involved in the process and more infrastructure is introduced into the area. Other initiatives are predicted to emerge alongside the seaweed cultivation (fishing, oyster farming, cosmetics and food businesses). The infrastructure for the full operation scale will be developing gradually and different elements from the currently existing infrastructure will be used at first.
︎︎︎Infrastructure and a hypothetical field analysisWith prescribed parameters and performance patterns, an infrastructural pattern was analysed in a form of a field. This energy flow and growth extend interdependency was drawn using data connected to biomass productivity where 1km2 of seaweed supplies energy to 115 households.
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