France Energies Marines is launching four research and innovation projects addressing technical, environmental and operational challenges in the offshore wind sector. Developed in consultation with the institute’s industrial members and partners, the projects cover cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems, the durability of synthetic mooring lines, the colonisation of offshore structures by marine organisms, and atmospheric turbulence measurement using lidar.
The four projects represent a total investment of nearly €10 million and address issues relevant to both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind developments.
ACT NOW – assessing cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems
The ACT NOW project aims to bring modelling tools developed by France Energies Marines into operational use to assess the cumulative effects of offshore wind farms and other human activities on marine ecosystems.
Following more than ten years of research, the models will be transferred to industry stakeholders through methodologies and software solutions for use in environmental assessments and decision-support processes.
GLAMOOR – investigating synthetic mooring line degradation
Mooring lines keep floating offshore systems in position under demanding environmental conditions. Synthetic fibres are increasingly used as an alternative to steel chains because they are lighter, easier to install and provide damping properties that reduce loads on floating structures.
Polyamide 6 (PA 6) has emerged as a potential material for these applications. Research projects initiated since 2017 have identified the main failure mechanisms affecting PA 6 ropes, but questions remain about their long-term degradation in seawater. GLAMOOR will investigate how the marine environment affects their mechanical properties and fatigue resistance.
QUANTUM – monitoring marine colonisation of offshore structures
Submerged structures are gradually colonised by marine organisms, a process known as biocolonisation. This can affect offshore wind turbine components and create artificial reef habitats.
The QUANTUM project will develop standardised monitoring protocols and quantitative databases to improve the assessment of biocolonisation at offshore wind farms. It will compare monitoring methods and provide recommendations to help industry stakeholders adapt programmes to local conditions and different types of infrastructure.
The project will also develop automated image analysis to detect and identify species on offshore structures. An in situ experiment will assess the ecological benefits of structures designed to enhance the artificial reef effect.
TULIP – measuring turbulence using fixed and floating lidar
Atmospheric turbulence affects the loads experienced by wind turbines and influences energy production estimates. Accurate measurements are therefore important for offshore wind project design and assessment.
TULIP continues a series of projects initiated in 2021 to investigate turbulence intensity measurements using lidar systems. Lidar can reduce measurement costs compared with sensors installed on offshore meteorological masts, but obtaining reliable turbulence data remains challenging, particularly from floating platforms.
The project will develop software to derive turbulence intensity measurements from fixed and floating lidar systems. The aim is to achieve accuracy that complies with industry standards and a level of confidence acceptable to offshore wind project financiers.
