Projects

Researchers are attempting to combine multiple forms of energy generation and multiple activities at one and the same location at sea. The Test@Sea project therefore focuses on expanding the available testing infrastructure further out at sea.

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.

Seismic surveys have revealed clay tectonic deformations in the Belgian part of the North Sea. The Clay Tectonics project investigates to which extent these deformations should and can be taken into account in the construction of offshore wind farms off our coast.

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 stakeholders.

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.

The impact of the European 'Green Deal' is gradually becoming tangible at sea as well. In the BANOS project, stakeholders in the Baltic Sea and North Sea regions are taking concrete positive measures to restore our ocean and waters.

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.

To what extent can existing infrastructure at sea be (re)used to generate or store energy and optimise the use of maritime space? The partners in the MP Multi-Use project set out to find the answer to this challenging question.

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.

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.

Europe is leading the way in offshore renewable energy. The ELBE Eurocluster project aims to put the knowledge and expertise of European companies (and in particular SMEs) on the international map. Various activities are organised for this purpose.