Projects

In the wake of a wind turbine, turbulence is created and the wind loses a lot of its power. This is called the wake effect. Cloud4wake aims to better explore the wake effects in wind farms, so that adverse effects can be addressed and the wind farms’ business case can be improved.

Natural solutions are increasingly used to protect our coasts from the ferocity of the sea. However, a lot of sand needs to be extracted for such solutions, which affects the marine ecosystem. SUSANA aims to map both ecosystems and the effects they experience.

The general public is often insufficiently aware of and involved in the sustainable transition of the Flemish coastal area. That’s why the BLUE BALANCE project is aimed at creating public support and facilitating a comprehensive dialogue between local residents, tourists, local businesses and government authorities.

In Europe, scaling up commercial aquaculture is hampered by high production costs and the pressure on local resources. In this project, an indoor cultivation concept for shrimp is developed that does not require water changes and produces virtually no waste. The new concept is based on improved clear water technology.

Belgium was one of the first countries to make a deliberate choice for offshore wind energy. The first installations are gradually approaching the end of their lifetime. The OWiDEx project wants to position Belgium as a pioneer in the decommissioning of offshore wind turbines.

The Flemish coast as we know it is the result of a centuries-long interaction between the sea, land and humans. The coastline was very different in the past. The Testerep project deals with how the coastline has evolved over time and what lessons we can learn for the present and the future.

There is a great demand for new, better and more versatile enzymes. The sea can be an important source of such enzymes, but research is very expensive and time-consuming. The EnzyMares project is aimed at developing a toolbox to easily identify promising enzymes.

The EVERBLUE project aims to investigate in detail the effects of wind on modern container ships moored in realistic, busy port environments. To this end, wind tunnel tests, CFD simulations and dynamic mooring analyses will be used.

Offshore wind turbines are constructed around the globe. The foundations of such wind turbines are quickly colonised by filter-feeding animals. The OUTFLOW project investigates the functional impact of a high concentration of these animals on the marine ecosystem.

Offshore wind turbines have a limited lifespan. The oldest wind turbines in the Belgian part of the North Sea are approaching the end of their useful life. The CTO project investigates how we can adopt a sustainable approach and prepare the industry for this.

The shipping industry is highly diverse and encompasses the carriage of goods by sea, along the coast and by inland waterways. A great deal of research is conducted into energy carriers and powertrains to make vessels more environmentally friendly. In this context, the CHyPS project has recently been launched.

Marine ecosystems deliver numerous benefits to society. They are key to integrated and sustainable marine development. WABESCO will develop a universal, adaptable and relevant evaluation tool for all actors and projects working towards sustainable blue growth.