AFLOWT - Accelerating market uptake of FLoating Offshore Wind Technology

Established in 2003, EMEC is the world’s leading facility for testing wave and tidal energy converters in real sea conditions. The centre offers independent, accredited grid-connected test berths for full-scale prototypes, as well as test sites in less challenging conditions for use by smaller scale technologies, supply chain companies, and equipment manufacturers. EMEC is the lead project partner. It initially focusing efforts on supporting the development of the AMETS site, advising on H&S systems and operating procedures. As the project developed, and underwent some modifications EMEC’s role evolved to include developing a concept design and business case for a floating offshore wind test and demonstration site, and floating subsystem test platform.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) works with homeowners, businesses, communities and Government to achieve this, through expertise, funding, educational programmes, policy advice, research and the development of new technologies. SEAI is part-financed by Ireland’s EU Structural Funds Programme co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Union. Ireland’s Offshore Renewable energy Development Plan (OREDP) has identified 70,000MW of energy potential off the Irish coast, the majority of which is wind and wave energy. This is circa 12 times Ireland’s current energy needs. SEAI will lead on the communications strand of the AFLOWT project.

SAIPEM is a leading company in engineering, drilling and construction of major projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors. It is “One-Company” organized in five business divisions (Offshore E&C, Onshore E&C, Offshore Drilling, Onshore Drilling and XSight, dedicated to conceptual design). SAIPEM is a global solution provider with distinctive skills and competences and high-tech assets, which it uses to identify solutions aimed at satisfying customer requirements. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, it is present in over 60 countries worldwide and has 32 thousand employees of 120 different nationalities. SAIPEM is leading the development of the offshore wind device to be tested as part of the AFLOWT project.

For over 80 years, MARIN has been contributing to the development of safe and economic ships and offshore structures as independent advisor in hydrodynamic and nautical research. MARIN accumulate know-how, expertise and experience to provide innovative tools and solutions for the maritime, offshore and nautical industry. At the same time MARIN consider it their responsibility to contribute to the development of offshore renewable energy from waves, tide and wind. For the AFLOWT project MARIN will be involved in the design of the mooring system and the monitoring of the prototype by means of full-scale measurements.

The MaREI Centre in University College Cork (Ireland) is a marine and renewable energy research, development and innovation Centre supported by Science Foundation Ireland. MaREI offers unique world class testing infrastructure, state-of-the-art structural laboratories, novel prototypes and measurement equipment that allow the systematic identification and reduction of development risks through a structured TRL development cycle. For the AFLOWT project, UCC – MaREI will lead the technology maturity and investability working group in addition to undertaking validation tank testing of prototype platform behaviour.

ESB, established in 1927 as a statutory corporation in the Republic of Ireland, operates across the electricity market from generation, through transmission and distribution to supply. ESB Engineering & Major Projects (E&MP) is a new directorate within ESB, and has capabilities including the research and development of new energy technologies and services, provision of specialist engineering expertise and project management capabilities. For the AFLOWT project, ESB E&MP will provide expert services and advice in relation to planning and consenting for the project and delivery of the environmental assessments required to meet the project output of installation of an offshore wind turbine.

Fraunhofer IWES in Germany ensures investments in technological developments in the field of wind energy through its validation services. By operating large test rigs, it accelerates the market introduction of innovative products, enhances certification processes and increases planning security by using state-of-the-art measurement techniques. Within the AFLOWT project, Fraunhofer IWES will investigate the long-term impact of the deployment of floating offshore wind for the North-West Europe renewable energy targets, which finally, together with the results from the testing campaign, will feed into a Floating Offshore Wind Development Plan. Furthermore, Fraunhofer IWES will lead on the development of an advanced turbine control system.

CaLiCyA (Cable Life Cycle Assurance) is specialised in the engineering and monitoring of power cable over each cycle of its life from design, route engineering and risk assessment to monitoring during manufacturing, laying and operation. CaLiCyA is a service company born from the collaboration of two expert companies: FEBUS OPTICS is an innovative French company specialised in distributed optical fibre sensing systems for the monitoring and integrity management of infrastructures. KRAKEN SUBSEA SOLUTIONS (KSS)- a French engineering company with expertise on the execution of complex offshore projects, design studies and innovative submarine installation works. For the AFLOWT project, CaLiCyA will provide dedicated monitoring for the subsea power cable and sub-structure, and the analysis of this data. The company will also provide centralisation of all data generated by the different monitoring systems and their collection on shore.

OPEN-C Foundation, national offshore test centre for floating wind and marine renewable energy (MRE). The OPEN-C Foundation coordinates, develops and manages offshore tests for floating offshore wind, tidal power, wave energy, offshore hydrogen and floating photovoltaics, in France, thus becoming the sole operator of French offshore test centre.