France Energies Marines has launched four new research and innovation projects involving 33 public and private partners, with a combined investment of nearly EUR 10 million.
Starting in autumn 2026, these projects will address technical, environmental, and operational issues in both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind sectors.
The initiatives will explore cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems, synthetic mooring lines durability, biofouling on offshore structures, and atmospheric turbulence using LiDAR technology.
The ACT NOW project aims to develop operational modeling tools to evaluate cumulative effects of offshore wind farms and other human activities on marine ecosystems. Tools developed over more than a decade will be transferred to industry for environmental assessments and decision-making methodologies.
GLAMOOR will study the long-term degradation of polyamide 6 ropes used in permanent mooring systems, focusing on how seawater impacts mechanical properties and fatigue resistance of these synthetic fibers, which could replace steel chains in floating wind applications.
The QUANTUM project seeks to create standardized methods for monitoring biocolonisation of offshore structures and databases to quantify it. It will also utilize automated image analysis to identify species on submerged structures and conduct an in-situ study of eco-designed structures to enhance the artificial reef effect in offshore wind farms.
TULIP will develop software for measuring turbulence intensity using both fixed and floating LiDAR systems. Building on research since 2021, the project aims to create industry-standard measurements suitable for offshore wind project financing.
“Amid energy security challenges and visible climate change impacts, large-scale renewable energy deployment is crucial. France Energies Marines’ collaborative projects accelerate offshore wind development by improving wind farm competitiveness, reliability of wind systems, and integration with marine ecosystems and socio-economic environments,” said Jean-François Filipot, Scientific Director of France Energies Marines.
The research institute is also involved in the EUR 16 million RHODÉ project, launched earlier this year with six partners to develop floating high-voltage direct current technology for deepwater offshore wind, targeting future 320 kV and 525 kV floating HVDC connections in France.
Original Story at offshorewind.biz