Projects

Within the context of a circular economy, companies are increasingly looking for valuable applications for biomass. It is important that we are able to efficiently separate the different components of biomass. The EffSep project is strongly focused on this.

The impact of human activities at sea is currently often very unclear. In order to address this knowledge gap, the SUMES project aims to develop an extensive model that measures the local, regional and global impact of such activities. This will help companies to work at sea in a more sustainable manner.

The current hybrid offshore connections and offshore grids sometimes leave much to be desired in terms cost-effectiveness and durability. In other words, there is still much room for improvement in terms of design and operation. The CORDOBA project is strongly focused on this.

Offshore wind turbines are constantly exposed to extreme weather conditions. The industry is therefore constantly looking for ways to extend the service life of offshore wind turbines. The RAINBOW project specifically focuses on improved rotor blade durability.

Oil spills can have a serious impact on the environment. In any case, it is crucial to detect leaks as quickly as possible. Within the DIOS project, drones will be deployed to spontaneously detect oil spills in harbours and automatically determine the seriousness of these spills.

In the future, we risk running into problems integrating renewable energy into the power grid. Especially because production during peak hours may be an obstacle. The H2-MHYTIC project explores the pioneering technology to convert electrical energy into hydrogen in detail.

Drones are being used more and more frequently and for a growing number of applications. To perform all these applications in a professional manner, specialised training is indispensable. Several players in the market are joining forces for this purpose.

The space available at sea is limited. In order to make optimum use of that space, it is important to combine various activities in the same location. That is called multi-use or multiple use of space. The Horizon 2020 project UNITED is strongly focused on this.

MarineSPOTS provides a scientific basis for the rollout of solar energy at sea. The partners model conditions such as waves and storms, and conduct research into adapted solar panels, floating structures and electrical systems. The impact on the marine ecology is also taken into consideration.

New wind farms are increasingly being constructed further out at sea. It is therefore quite a challenge to transport that energy to end users. The NEPTUNE project examines the development of the future European offshore wind power grid.

The drone sector is growing in Belgium and could potentially generate an annual turnover of 409 million euro and create 1,000 additional jobs by 2020. The Drone Innovations project responds to this growth by promoting co-creation and innovation in terms of drones.

The SiteSEA project partners aim to increase the profitability of onshore aquaculture in Flanders. They have two avenues in mind to achieve this: on the one hand, reduce the costs by using industrial residual flows, and on the other hand, generate additional income via blue tourism.