OceaNet

The network will bring together partners from across Europe and offer 13 ESR positions at 10 different host institutions. The training programme will include individual research projects developed under PhD studies, short courses on a range of topics relating to the field of marine renewables and secondments at industrial partners to build relations between academia and industry.

The scientific work packages within OceaNET focus in the areas of environmental monitoring hardware, offshore farm design, implementation and O&M, and technology development. OceaNET researchers aim to expand on existing experience in fixed foundation offshore wind farms and extend that knowledge to floating offshore wind and wave energy installations.

In order to progress the development of both wave and floating offshore wind, the development of enabling technologies and tools are necessary. The OceaNET R&D program will undertake research in the following areas, applicable to the development of wave and floating offshore wind farms:

• Improvement of design and operation and maintenance support tools to improve energy production and reduce costs

• Development of underwater electrical connectors and support ROVs (remotely operated vehicle) – as the water becomes deeper the use of fixed foundations to host the electrical components (present solution) will be less appropriate; the use of divers for ocean bottom standing electrical connectors O&M in deep waters will be very expensive and needs to be replaced by ROVs.
• Improvement of condition monitoring systems and its integration in the maintenance strategy and operations