3 S 3 'S
INNOVATIVE
MULTI-PURPOSE
OFFSHORE
PLATFORMS
INTRODUCTION
ncre a s in g ly , E u ro p e a n
novel o ffs h o re a c tiv itie s re ­
m e n ta l p re ssu re on th e oceans,
seas an d oceans a re
q u ire s p e c ific te c h n o lo g y and
th re a te n in g m a rin e e co syste m s.
I
s u b je c t to th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f
go verna nce in o r d e r to ad dress
In th is re g a rd , It Is c ru c ia l th a t
m a rin e in fr a s tr u c tu r e such as
th e c h a lle n g e s lin k e d w ith th e
th e e c o n o m ic co sts, th e use o f
o ffs h o re w in d fa rm s , e n e rg y ex­
in s ta lla tio n , o p e ra tio n and
m a rin e space and th e e n v iro n ­
tr a c tio n fr o m tid e s and w aves
m a in te n a n c e o f the se fa c ilitie s .
m e n ta l Im p a c ts o f the se a c tiv ­
as w e ll as m a rin e a q u a c u ltu re
M o re o ve r, th e d e v e lo p m e n t
itie s re m a in w ith in a c c e p ta b le
in o rd e r to m e et th e d e m a n d
and o p e ra tio n o f m a rin e
lim its . O ffs h o re p la tfo rm s th a t
fo r e n e rg y an d s e a fo o d .T h e s e
in fr a s tr u c tu r e e x e rt e n v iro n ­
co m b in e m u ltip le fu n c tio n s
w ith in th e sam e In fra s tr u c tu r e
can o ffe r s ig n ific a n t b e n e fits in
te rm s o f e c o n o m ic s , o p tim is in g
s p a tia l p la n n in g and re d u c in g
th e im p a c t on th e e n v iro n m e n t.
\
EUROPEAN
POLICY CONTEXT
T
he E u ro p e a n In te g ra te d
M a r itim e P o lic y (IM P ,
COM ( 2 0 0 7 ) 5 7 5 ) seeks to
p ro vid e a m o re c o h e re n t a p ­
p ro a c h to m a ritim e issues, w ith
in cre ased c o o rd in a tio n betw een
d iffe r e n t p o lic y a re a s . I t covers
several c ro s s -c u ttin g p o lic ie s ,
o f w h ic h 'B lu e g r o w th ' (C O M
( 2 0 1 2 ) 0 4 9 4 ) a n d 'M a r it im e
s p a tia l p la n n in g '( C O M ( 2 0 1 3 )
1 3 3 ) a re o f s p e c ific im p o rta n c e
w ith re g a rd to m u lti-u s e o f f ­
sho re p la tfo rm s . B lu e g ro w th
is th e lo n g -te rm s tra te g y to
s u p p o rt s u s ta in a b le g ro w th in
th e m a rin e and m a r itim e sec­
to r s as a w h o le , w h ile m a ritim e
s p a tia l p la n n in g is a b o u t p la n ­
ning w h e n and w h e re h u m an
a c tiv itie s ta k e pla ce a t sea - to
e n sure the se a re as e ffic ie n t
and s u s ta in a b le as p o ssib le .
D ire c tiv e ( M S F D , D ire c tiv e
2 0 0 8 /5 6 /E C ) , w h ic h in te n d s to
a ch ie ve th e G ood E n v iro n m e n ­
ta l S ta tu s (G E S ) o f th e E u ro ­
pean m a rin e w a te rs by 2 0 2 0
as w e ll as th e p ro te c tio n o f th e
re s o u rc e s on w h ic h e c o n o m ic
an d s o c ia l a c tiv itie s depend .
In o rd e r to d e s c rib e th e G E S ,
11 d e s c rip to rs w e re d e fin e d ,
several o f w h ic h a re re le v a n t
fo r th e c o n s tru c tio n , o p e ra tio n
an d d e c o m m is s io n in g o f m u l­
ti-u s e o ffs h o re p la tfo rm s (e .g .
The e n v iro n m e n ta l p illa r o f
th e IM P is c o n s titu te d by th e
M a rin e S tra te g y F ra m e w o rk
s e a flo o r in te g rity , h y d ro g ra p h ic
fe a tu re s an d u n d e rw a te r noise
an d o th e r fo rm s o f e n e rg y ).
EUROPEAN
POLICY CONTEXT
esides th e a fo re m e n ­
B
tio n e d in te g ra te d
p o lic y , s e c to ra l le g is la tio n and
p o lic ie s e x is t w ith re g a rd to th e
d iffe r e n t user fu n c tio n s o f th e
m u lti-u s e o ffs h o re p la tfo rm s .
2 0 2 0 in several c o m m u n i­
E u ro p e has e m p h a s iz e d th e
c a tio n s (e .g . C O M ( 2 0 0 8 )
im p o rta n c e o f o ffs h o re w in d
7 6 8 ) . The E u ro p e a n p o lic y on
e n e rg y to a ch ie ve its ta r g e t to
a q u a c u ltu re (in c h m a r ic u ltu r e )
ge t 2 0 % o f E u ro p e 's e n ergy
is in c lu d e d in th e C o m m o n
fr o m re n e w a b le sou rces by
F ish e rie s P o lic y (C F P ) .T h e
s tra te g y fo r s u s ta in a b le d e vel­
o p m e n t o f E u ro p e a n a q u a c u l­
tu r e w as e la b o ra te d in COM
( 2 0 0 9 ) 1 6 2 and C O M ( 2 0 1 3 )
2 2 9 . F u rth e rm o re , several
o th e r E u ro p e a n d ire c tiv e s a re
( in d ir e c tly ) im p o r ta n t fo r th e
user fu n c tio n s o f m u lti-u s e
o ffs h o re p la tfo rm s , such as
th e H a b ita ts D ire c tiv e , B ird s
D ire c tiv e o r W a te r F ra m e w o rk
D ire c tiv e .
\
INTERNATIONAL
POLICY CONTEXT
T
he U n ite d N a tio n s
C o n v e n tio n on th e L a w
o f th e S ea (U N C L O S ; UN
1 9 8 2 ) is a u n iv e rs a l s yste m o f
law s and ru le s fo r th e w o rld 's
oceans an d seas, c o v e rin g e x­
te n s iv e ly th e use o f th e oceans
and th e ir n a tu ra l re source s.
U N C LO S in tro d u c e s som e
c o n ce p ts an d re g u la tio n s w h ic h
a re o f s p e c ific Im p o rta n c e fo r
th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f m u lti-u s e
o ffs h o re p la tfo rm s :
• C o u n trie s w ith co a sts
have so ve reign rig h ts In a
2 0 0 - n a u tlc a l m ile e x c lu s iv e
e c o n o m ic zone ( E E Z ) w ith
re sp e ct to n a tu ra l re source s
and s p e c ific e c o n o m ic a c ­
• W ith re g a rd to n a v ig a tio n ,
F u rth e rm o re , th e re a re som e
U N C L O S s tip u la te s th a t th e
c o n v e n tio n s o f th e In te r n a ­
c o a s ta l s ta te m ay, in its E E Z
tio n a l M a r itim e O rg a n iz a tio n
o r above its c o n tin e n ta l shelf,
( IM O ) w ith re g a rd to m a ritim e
w h e re necessary, e s ta b lis h
s a fe ty w h ic h a re (In d ir e c tly )
re a s o n a b le s a fe ty zones
re le v a n t fo r th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f
a ro u n d a r t if ic ia l island s,
m u lti-u s e o ffs h o re p la tfo rm s ,
in s ta lla tio n s and s tru c tu re s
such as th e C o n v e n tio n on th e
in w h ic h it m a y ta k e a p p ro ­
In te rn a tio n a l R e g u la tio n s fo r
p ria te m e asure s to e n sure th e
P re v e n tin g C o llis io n s a t Sea
s a fe ty o f n a v ig a tio n and o f
(C O L R E G ) and th e In te r n a ­
th e a r t if ic ia l is la n d s , in s ta lla ­
tio n a l C o n v e n tio n fo r th e S a fe ­
tio n s an d s tru c tu re s .
ty o f L ife a t S ea (S O L A S ).
tiv itie s , and exe rcise a u th o r­
ity o ve r m a rin e s c ie n tific
re se a rch and e n v iro n m e n ta l
p r o te c tio n .
• U N C L O S re g u la te s th e
d e c o m m is s io n in g o f o ffs h o re
In s ta lla tio n s , such as w in d
tu rb in e s , once p ro d u c tio n has
ceased.
\
SOCIO­
ECONOMIC
IMPORTANCE
T
he s o c ia l an d e c o n o m ic
m a y b e n e fit fr o m s h a re d in fr a -
an d p o te n tia l o f th e se s e c to rs
p o te n tia l o f E u ro p e 's
s tr u c tu r e a n d c o m m o n s k ills .
a re e la b o ra te d be lo w .
s o - c a lle d 'B lu e E c o n o m y '
The s o c ia l and e c o n o m ic size
is im m e n s e . A c c o rd in g to
th e E u ro p e a n C o m m is s io n ,
th is e c o n o m y re p re s e n ts 5 .4
m illio n jo b s and a g ro ss a d ded
v a lu e o f ju s t u n d e r € 5 0 0
b illio n a year. T h e M ER M A I D
p r o je c t a d d re sse s seve ral
s e c to rs o f th e b lu e e c o n o m y
THE BLUE ECONOMY ACCOUNTS
FOR 5.4 MILLION JOBS AND
A GROSS ADDED VALUE
OF APPROXIMATELY
500 BILLION EUROS
EU C O M M IS S IO N - DG M A R I T I M E A F F A IR S & F IS H E R IE S
w h ic h a re in te rd e p e n d e n t and
In re c e n t yea rs, o ffs h o re w in d
p o w e r g e n e ra tio n has e xp ande d
ra p id ly in E u ro p e , p a r tly as
a re s u lt o f th e E U p o lic y on
re n e w a b le energy. By 2 0 1 3 ,
a to ta l o f 2 ,0 8 0 tu rb in e s
had been in s ta lle d an d g rid
c o n n e c te d in 6 9 w in d fa rm s in
th e E u ro p e a n seas and oce ans.
These tu rb in e s a c c o u n t fo r a
to ta l c a p a c ity o f 6 ,5 6 2 M W ,
re p re s e n tin g m o re th a n 9 0 %
o f th e o ffs h o re w in d e n ergy
c a p a c ity w o rld w id e .T h e a n n u a l
in v e s tm e n ts in th is s e c to r ra nge
T his represents 2 .3 % o f th e
t o ta l w o rld a q u a c u ltu re p ro ­
d u c tio n in te rm s o f v o lu m e and
4 % in te rm s o f va lu e . 2 8 % o f
E u ro p e 's a q u a c u ltu re p ro d u c ­
tio n co n ce rn s s e a w a te r fish
w h ile m o llu s c s and c ru s ta c e a n s
a c c o u n t fo r 5 0 % . M o s t o f
th e a q u a c u ltu re businesses in
th e EU a re S M Es, p ro v id in g
b e tw een € 4 .6 b illio n an d € 6 .4
c u r re n tly being d e m o n s tra te d
b illio n ( 2 0 1 3 ) . I t is envisaged
an d u n d e rw a te r tu rb in e s d riv e n
th a t o ffs h o re w in d c o u ld m e et
by c u rre n ts ( tid a l o r o th e r) are
4 % o f th e EU e le c tr ic ity
clo se to c o m m e rc ia lis a tio n .
d e m a n d by 2 0 2 0 and 1 4 % by
In t o t a l, 2 2 M W o f w a ve and
2 0 3 0 (E U c o m m u n ic a tio n on
c u r re n t de vice s w e re in s ta lle d
B lu e G ro w th ).
in 2 0 1 2 .
O ffs h o re w a v e e n ergy Is s till in
On a glo b a l scale, a q u a c u ltu re
a ro u n d 8 0 ,0 0 0 jo b s .
S o u rc e s : C ru z e t a l. ( 2 0 0 8 )
- O cean w ave e n e rg y : c u r re n t
s ta tu s a n d fu tu r e p e rs p e c tiv e s ;
E W E A O ffs h o re W in d E n e rg y
S ta tis tic s 2 0 1 3 ; G W E C G lo b a l
W in d S ta tis tic s 2 0 1 2 ; FA O
a d e v e lo p m e n t phase, a lth o u g h
is th e fa s te s t-g ro w in g anim al
its p o te n tia l is huge. A c c o rd ­
fo o d -p ro d u c in g sector, c o n trib ­
ing to C ru z e t a l. ( 2 0 0 8 ) , th e
u tin g s ig n ific a n tly to th e overall
to ta l a v a ila b le w a ve p o w e r
im p ro v e m e n t in hu m an die t.
o f a ll c o a s tlin e s in th e w o rld
A q u a c u ltu re p ro d u c tio n in the
is c o m p a ra b le to th e c u rre n t
E uropean U nion Is In th e region
w o rld e le c tr ic ity c o n s u m p ­
o f 1.3 m illio n tonnes w ith an
tio n . W ave p o w e r devices are
associated value o f € 3 .2 b illio n .
The s ta te o f w o r ld fis h e rie s
a n d a q u a c u ltu re ( 2 0 1 2 ) , F a cts
a n d fig u re s o f th e C F P ( 2 0 1 2 )
a n d C O M ( 2 0 1 2 ) 4 9 4 on b lu e
g ro w th
\
RESEARCH ON
MULTI-USE
PLATFORMS
H O R K PACKAGES MERMAID
W P l P ro je c t m a n a g e m e n t
W P 2 A ssessm ent o f po licy, p la n n in g & m a n a g e m e n t stra te g ie s
T
he M ER M A ID p ro je c t
(E U -F P 7 , w w w .
m e rm a ld p ro je c t.e u ) de velops
co n c e p ts fo r n e x t-g e n e ra tlo n o ffs h o re p la tfo rm s fo r
m u lti- u s e o f ocean space fo r
e n e rg y e x tr a c tio n , a q u a c u ltu re
and p la tfo rm -re la te d tr a n s p o r t.
W P 3 D e v e lo p m e n t o f re n e w a b le e n e rg y co n v e rs io n fr o m w in d
& w aves
W P 4 S y s te m s fo r s u s ta in a b le a q u a c u ltu re & e c o lo g ic a lly
based design
W P 5 In te ra c tio n o f p la tfo rm s w ith h y d ro d y n a m ic c o n d itio n s
& seabed
W P 6 T ra n s p o rt and o p tim iz a tio n o f In s ta lla tio n , o p e ra tio n &
m a in te n a n c e
The p r o je c t does n o t en visage
W P 7 In n o v a tiv e p la tfo r m p la n & design
b u ild in g new p la tfo rm s , b u t
W P 8 E c o n o m ic a l, te c h n ic a l & e n v iro n m e n ta l fe a s ib ility o f
a lm s a t e x a m in in g d iffe re n t
co n c e p ts , such as a c o m b in a ti­
m u lti-u s e p la tfo rm s
W P 9 P ro je c t d is s e m in a tio n & o u tre a c h a c tiv itie s
on o f s tru c tu re s o r c o m p le te ly
ne w s tru c tu re s on re p re s e n ­
ta tiv e sites u n d e r d iffe re n t
Besides, th e E u ro p e a n C o m m is ­
c o n d itio n s . In a d d itio n , p ro je c t
sion g ra n te d tw o o th e r re se a rch
F P 7 , w w w .tr o p o s p la tfo r m .
d e v e lo p m e n t g u id e lin e s w ill be
p ro je c ts w ith re g a rd to m u lt i­
e u ), a im e d a t th e d e v e lo p ­
p ro d u ce d fo r s ta k e h o ld e rs and
use o ffs h o re p la tfo rm s :
m e n t o f a flo a tin g m o d u la r
• T h e H 2 0 C E A N p ro je c t ( E U-
f o r use In deep w a te rs .
e n d -u se rs, a d d re s s in g a w id e
ra n g e o f Issues such as business
m u lti-u s e p la tfo r m system
and te c h n ic a l asp ects and spa­
F P 7, w w w .h 2 o c e a n -p ro je c t.
t ia l s o c io -e c o n o m ic p la n n in g .
e u ), aim e d a t th e d e v e lo p ­
The M E R M A ID c o n s o rtiu m
op en-se a p la tfo r m eq u ip p e d
c o n s is ts o f 2 9 E u ro p e a n p a r t ­
fo r h y d ro g e n g e n e ra tio n w ith
m e n t o f a w in d -w a v e p o w e r
ners b rin g in g to g e th e r e x p e rtis e
s u p p o rt fo r m u ltip le users o f
fr o m b o th science and In d u s try .
energy.
8
• T h e T R O P O S p r o je c t ( E U-
\
CASE STUDIES
T
he M E R M A ID p ro je c t
e n v iro n m e n ta l c h a ra c te ris tic s
co n s id e rs fo u r o ffs h o re
o f each s ite .T h e v a rio u s c o n ­
s tu d y sites fo r m u lti-u s e o ffs h o ­
c e p tu a l designs a re pre se n te d
re p la tfo rm s . S ite -s p e c ific de­
in th e n e x t p a r t o f th is b o o k le t.
signs a re be in g de velope d based
on an e x te n s iv e s ta k e h o ld e r
c o n s u lta tio n process and th e
M ADDEN - NORTH
S-EA SITE
A T L A N T IC
OCEAN SITE
\
BA LTIC
SEASTTE
ATLANTIC OCEAN
O M B IN A T IO N
C
USER
F U N C T IO N & DE
-a
S IG N
O
u tlo o k &
C H ALLEN G ES
In th e fu tu r e , o th e r user
Based on th e a v a ila b le re s o u r­
fu n c tio n s such as le is u re and
ces an d th e c h a ra c te ris tic s o f
m a ritim e tr a n s p o r t m a y be
th e A t la n t ic S ite , a c o m b in a ti­
In te g ra te d In th e p la tfo rm .
on o f o ffs h o re w in d and w ave
F u rth e rm o re , th e e n v iro n m e n ­
e n e rg y e x tr a c tio n Is o p te d fo r.
ta l im p a c t o f th e c o n v e rte rs ,
The p ro p o s e d sc e n a rio c o n s ists
s tru c tu re s and fo u n d a tio n s
o f an a r ra y o f 5 M W w a ve
sh o u ld be e lu c id a te d in m o re
e n e rg y c o n v e rte rs and 2 .5 M W
d e ta il, an d p o te n tia l m itig a tio n
w in d tu rb in e s .
m e asure s and e c o -c o m p a tlb le
design s o lu tio n s sh o u ld be
Due to th e w a te r d e p th In th e
id e n tifie d .
s tu d y site , o n ly flo a tin g devices
w ill be ta k e n In to c o n s id e ra ti­
o n . H ence, th e la tte r c o n c e p t
w ill be o f p a r tic u la r in te re s t
fo r c o u n trie s w ith a n a rro w
c o n tin e n ta l shelf. The
design o f th is m u lti-u s e
o ffs h o re p la tfo r m is espe­
c ia lly c h a lle n g in g due to
th e v e ry ro u g h w a ve and
w in d c o n d itio n s in th e
A tla n tic S ite .
10
\
A
A DEEP MATER
SITE
W
ATLANTIC SITE FACTSHEET
G eographical lo catio n
S u rface area of study site
O ffsh ore distance
Depth
S u b s tra te
A t la n t ic Ocean, n o rth o f S p a in
•V..
100 km 2
.~iy.
3 - 2 0 km
50 - 25 0 m
m ix o f san dy and ro c k y seabed
W a te r te m p e ra tu re
1 0 - 2 0 °C
M ax . tid a l curren ts
1 .5
W ave heights
M ean wave energy p o te n tial
Average w ind speed
cm /s
M o s tly < 6 m
2 0 k W /m on 5 0 m d e p th
7 .5 m /s
MEDITERRANEAN
SEA
O M B IN A T IO N U S E R
C
F U N C T IO N & D E S IG N
• M lc ro -w In d system s, such as
a h o riz o n ta l a x is B e rg e y E X ­
A c o m b in a tio n o f several user
fu n c tio n s Is th e re fo re re q u i­
C E L 1 0 tu r b in e (m e a s u rin g
red to c re a te an e c o n o m ic a lly
The c o n c e p tu a l de sig n o f th e
2 5 m h ig h ), p la c e d on to p o f
v ia b le s o lu tio n .
p la tfo r m In th e M e d ite rra n e a n
th e w a ve e n e rg y c o n v e rte rs .
s ite In clu d e s w a ve e n e rg y ex­
t r a c tio n , w in d e n e rg y e x tr a c tio n
• S ea cages an d cab le s fo r fish
O
u tlo o k &
C H ALLEN G ES
and fish fa r m in g .T w o w ave
fa r m in g (e .g . M e d ite rra n e ­
e n e rg y e x tr a c tio n devices are
an sea bass (D ic e n tra rc h u s
The p r o x im ity o f m a ritim e
be in g c o m p a re d : A flo a tin g
la b r a x ) and g llth e a d sea
t r a f f ic ro u te s and th e h a rb o r
w a ve e n e rg y de vice m e a s u rin g
b re a m (S p a ru s a u ra tu s )) o r
o f V enice o ffe rs o p p o rtu n itie s
1 5 m w id e and 3 0 m long ,
m ussel fa r m in g a re being
to In te g ra te tr a n s p o r ta tio n
and W ave S ta r, a fix e d system
e x a m in e d .
and s h ip p in g fa c ilitie s In th e
on p iles w ith flo a te rs (3 a rm s
m u lti-u s e o ffs h o re p la tfo r m .
m e a s u rin g 8 0 m long an d 8 m
The s tu d y s ite Is c h a ra c te ris e d
F u rth e rm o re , w o rk Is needed
w id e ).T h e s e tw o type s o f w ave
by a re la tiv e ly m ild c lim a te ,
on th e so cia l p e rc e p tio n o f
fa r m s m a y be c o m b in e d w ith
w h ic h a llo w s fo r a safe In s ta l­
these m u lti- u s e p la tfo rm s , th e
th e fo llo w in g user fu n c tio n s :
la tio n b u t s tro n g ly lim its
o p tim is e d In te g ra tio n o f th e
th e b e n e fits o f a s in g le ­
de sig n and a d e ta ile d co s t
p u rp o s e In s ta lla tio n , b o th
and b e n e fit a n a ly s is .T h e
(e .g . V estas V 1 1 2 , 1 0 0 m
because o f th e lim ite d
te c h n o lo g ic a l c h a lle n g e s
h ig h ), to be In s ta lle d a t th e
a v a ila b le e n e rg y and
a re e s s e n tia lly re la te d to
b o u n d a rie s o f th e w a v e fa r m .
due to th e s ig n ific a n t
th e Im m a tu r ity o f w ave
• L a rg e m o n o -p lle tu rb in e s
d is ta n c e fro m
th e s h o re as a
re s u lt o f th e
f la t sea b o tto m .
e n e rg y d e v e lo p m e n t.
M o re s p e c ific a lly ,
th e de sig n o f th e
m o o rin g system
A SHELTERED
SITE
MEDITERRANEAN SITE FACTSHEET
G eographical location
N o rth e rn A d r ia t ic Sea, o f f th e co a st
o f Venice
O ffsh ore distance
Depth
1 6 km
1 6 m , g e n tle slo p e to w a rd s s o u th
e a st
S u b s tra te
W a te r te m p e ra tu re
S a lin ity
T id a l range
A m ix tu re o f sand and m ud
1 4 °C ( + /- 6 ° C )
2 7 .5
psu ( + /- 1 .5 psu)
0 .5 m ( + /- 0 .1 5 m )
M ean wave h eig ht
1 .2 5 m
Exp ected annual wave power
3 k W /m
Average w ind speed
E xp ected annual w ind power
4 .5 4 m /s
L a rg e tu r b in e s : 1 2 .7 G W h /y /
4 V estas V 1 1 2 tu rb in e s
( fo r th e flo a tin g w a v e e n ergy
de vice s), th e v e r ific a tio n o f
fo u n d a tio n s ta b ility ( fo r W ave
S ta r) an d th e im p ro v e d design
o f th e d e vice s and fa r m la y o u t
to m a x im is e e n e rg y p ro d u c tio n
deserve fu r th e r In v e s tig a tio n .
In a d d itio n , a m a jo r c h a lle n g e
is to lim it th e e n v iro n m e n ta l
Im p a c t.T h e s e le c tio n o f th e
c o n s tru c tio n m a te ria ls and th e
m a in te n a n c e p la n s sh o u ld th e ­
re fo re be c o n s id e re d c a re fu lly .
\
MADDEN SEA
NORTH SEA
►OM BI NATI ON USER
►FUNCTION & DESIGN
In a d d itio n to w in d energy, th e
c o m b in a tio n w ith th e fo llo w in g
p o te n tia l s e c o n d a ry fu n c tio n s
w ill be s tu d ie d an d assessed:
• W ave e n ergy e x tr a c tio n :
W ave e n ergy m a y be an
• Seaweed fa r m in g : Seaweed
w ill In cre a s in g ly g a in Im p o r­
ta n ce as a ra w m a te ria l and Is
and F ra n c e .T h e m o s t re le v a n t
b e n e fit o f lo c a l c u ltiv a tio n
is th e p o s s ib ility to o ffe r w e t
seaweed on th e m a rk e t.
• S h e llfis h a q u a c u ltu re :T h e
s h e llfis h in d u s try is lo o k in g
fo r a d d itio n a l fis h in g g ro u n d s
fo r m ussel seed c o lle c to rs
an d c u ltiv a tio n o f m ussels
on lo n g lin e s . A n a d d itio n a l
m a rk e t f o r 5 0 ,0 0 0 to n n e s o f
blue m ussels is e x p e c te d .
14
' CHAL L EN GES
o p tio n ; how ever, th e fir s t
stu d ie s re ve a l lim ite d e n ergy
p ro d u c tio n p o te n tia l.
In th e fu t u r e th e m u lti-u s e
p la tfo r m m a y be e xte n d e d to
o th e r user fu n c tio n s such as
c u r re n tly a lre a d y Im p o rte d by
D u tch com panie s fro m A s ia
jUTLOOK&
A m o d u la r a p p ro a c h w ill be
fa c ilitie s fo r e n e rg y s to ra g e ,
used f o r th e s tru c tu re s fo r sea­
to u ris m (r e c re a tio n a l fis h e rie s
w eed an d s h e llfis h c u ltiv a tio n ,
and d iv in g tr ip s ) and fis h e rie s
e n a b lin g an easy e x te n s io n o f
(p assive fis h in g g e a r).
th e a c tiv itie s .T h e s e s tru c tu re s
w ill be lo c a te d in sid e and o u ts i­
S om e o f th e key ch a lle n g e s
de th e o ffs h o re w in d fa r m and
th a t de serve f u r th e r s tu d y a re :
w ill n o t be c o n n e c te d to th e
th e design o f th e se a w e e d /m u s­
tu rb in e s . A n a lte rn a tio n o f sea­
sel fa r m in g syste m w ith in th e
w eed an d s h e llfis h s tru c tu re s is
o ffs h o re w in d fa r m (in te g ra tio n
e n visa g e d . Fish fa r m in g Is n o t
o f th e tw o typ e s o f a q u a c u ltu re ,
fe a s ib le in th is s tu d y s ite due to
design o f h a rv e s tin g e q u ip m e n t,
th e high te m p e ra tu re (> 18 °C
e tc .), th e e c o lo g ic a l ch a lle n g e s
in s u m m e r) and th e re la tiv e ly
lin ke d to a q u a c u ltu re a c tiv i­
s h a llo w w a te r (3 0 m ).
tie s (e .g . ris k assessm ent o f
I
B
AN ACTIVE
MORPHOLOGY
SITE §
4
e n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t and th e
m itig a tio n o f diseases) and
e v a lu a tio n o f th e e n v iro n m e n ta l
and s o c io -e c o n o m ic b e n e fits o f
th is m u lti- u s e p la tfo rm .
The o p e ra tio n a l ch a lle n g e s
o f th is s tu d y s ite in c lu d e th e
re la tiv e ly high d is ta n c e to th e
n e a re s t m a in p o r t (8 5 k m ) and
th e e x tre m e w a v e h e ig h ts w h ic h
m a y o c c u r d u rin g s to rm s .
BALTIC SEA
O M B IN A T IO N U S E R
C
F U N C T IO N & D E S IG N
A n o ffs h o re w in d fa r m (7 5
tu rb in e s w ith a to ta l c a p a ­
c ity o f 6 0 0 M W ) is a lre a d y
sch e d u le d fo r c o n s tru c tio n In
th is s tu d y s ite . The M E R M A I D
• S eaw eed fa r m in g : M o re
s p e c ific a lly , th e c u ltiv a tio n o f
r c e lla r ia sp .) w ill ta k e p la ce on
s u b m e rg e d lo n g iin e s, w h ic h w ill
p r o je c t e x p lo re s th e th e o re tic a l
F u rc e lla r ia sp. is in v e s tig a te d
also re d u ce th e w a ve im p a c t on
p o s s ib ility to c o m b in e th is w in d
given th a t th is seaweed can
th e fish cages.
fa r m , w h ic h sh o u ld be o p e ra ti­
be c u ltu re d In w a te rs w ith
o n a l in 2 0 2 0 , w ith a d d itio n a l
lo w s a lin ity , as p re s e n t in
a q u a c u ltu re a c tiv itie s :
K rie g e rs F la k .
• Fish fa r m ln g : T o ta l fish
fa r m in g c a p a c ity is e s tim a te d
O
u tlo o k &
C H ALLEN G ES
In th e p re s e n t p lan s, th e w in d
One o f th e c h a lle n g e s o f th is
tu rb in e s w ill be o rg a n is e d
s tu d y s ite is th e s ig n ific a n t
a t a p p ro x im a te ly 1 0 0 ,0 0 0
In tw o g ro u p s , s e p a ra te d by
d is ta n c e to th e n e a re s t p o rt.
to n n e s . W ith in 3 -4 yea rs,
a sand e x tr a c tio n a re a .T w o
The c o m b in a tio n o f a q u a ­
1 0 ,0 0 0 to n n e s o f ra in b o w
s e p a ra te fis h fa r m fa c ilitie s are
c u ltu re an d o ffs h o re w in d
t r o u t o r A t la n t ic s a lm o n can
e n visa ged In b e tw een th e tw o
e n ergy w ill th e re fo re p ro vid e
be p ro d u c e d a n n u a lly , w ith a
g ro u p s o f tu rb in e s so th a t th e y
s ig n ific a n t b e n e fits In te rm s o f
v a lu e o f € 4 0 m illio n .
are s h e lte re d by th e fo u n d a ­
tra n s p o r ta tio n and ho u sin g .
tio n s o f th e m o n o p ile s . Each
S till, th e o p e ra tio n a l d iffic u ltie s
fa r m c o n s is ts o f 1 2 -1 4 ro u n d
w h e n c o m b in in g d iffe r e n t users
cages (4 5 m in d ia m e te r and
sh o u ld be ta k e n in to a c c o u n t.
1 2 -1 5 m deep) and a fe e d in g
b a rg e . S eaw eed fa r m in g ( F u ­
AH ESTUARIHE
SITE
The m a in o b s ta c le to la rg e scale fish fa r m in g c o u ld be th e
e n v iro n m e n ta l im p a c t caused
by th e re le ase o f n u trie n ts . In
th is re g a rd , a s tu d y w ill be c o n ­
d u c te d to e x a m in e th e p o te n tia l
o f sessile filte r fe e d e rs liv in g
on th e tu r b in e fo u n d a tio n to
seq ueste r a q u a c u ltu re w a s te .
F u tu re use o f m a c ro -a lg a l
c u ltu re s fo r w a ve d a m p in g w ill
re q u ire b o th in n o v a tio n and
s m a ll-s c a le fie ld te s tin g .
GENERAL
CONCLUSIONS
AND OUTLOOK
T
he in te g ra tio n o f va ­
e n e rg y and th e e x p a n s io n o f
and in v o lv e p o te n tia l n e w user
rio u s user fu n c tio n s in
s u s ta in a b le a q u a c u ltu re .T h e in ­
fu n c tio n s such as to u ris m ,
a m u lti-u s e o ffs h o re p la tfo r m
te g ra tio n o f m u ltip le a c tiv itie s
m a ritim e tr a n s p o r t, en ergy
p ro vid e s s ig n ific a n t b e n e fits in
in one p la tfo r m is als o s tro n g ly
s to ra g e an d fis h e rie s . S o m e o f
te rm s o f sha red use o f in fr a ­
e n c o u ra g e d in th e c o n te x t o f
th e key c h a lle n g e s a re fu r th e r
s tru c tu re (fo u n d a tio n s , m o o r­
m a ritim e s p a tia l p la n n in g .
re d u c tio n o f th e e n v iro n m e n ta l
ings, e n e rg y tra n s fe r, e tc .), re ­
M o re o v e r, th is c o m b in a tio n o f
im p a c t by m eans o f e c o -c o m -
sou rces ( s ta ff, m a te ria l, energy,
a c tiv itie s g e n e ra lly re s u lts in a
p a tlb le de sig n s o lu tio n s and
e la b o ra tio n o f a d e ta ile d co sts
SUPPORT FOR MULTI-USE
PLATFORMS IN THE OCEANS
H IL L BE INCREASINGLY
IMPORTANT AS HE GO FORHARD
MÁI RE GEOGHEGAN-QUI NN, EUROPEAN COMMI SSI ONER
FOR RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND SCI ENCE
e tc .) an d s ervice s (m o n ito r in g ,
re duced e n v iro n m e n ta l Im p a c t
m a in te n a n c e , e tc .) . Hence,
c o m p a re d to several sin g le -u se
m u lti- u s e p la tfo rm s m a y prove
p la tfo rm s , w h ic h Is c ru c ia l to
e c o n o m ic a lly v ia b le in cases
re a c h th e good e n v iro n m e n ta l
w h e re s in g le -p u rp o s e p la tfo rm s
s ta tu s o f E u ro p e a n m a rin e
a re n o t. I t Is e n visa ged th a t
w a te rs by 2 0 2 0 .
the se In te g ra te d p la tfo rm s w ill
c o n trib u te to th e fu lfilm e n t o f
F u rth e r re s e a rc h Is needed to
th e EU s tra te g ie s on re n e w a b le
o p tim is e th e In te g ra te d design
18
and b e n e fit a n a ly s is .
\
MERMAID
PARTNERS
Technical U niversity o f D enmark
DTU
/O v 0
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I■0I
m
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5
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energy
^ %
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T
Statoil
CHALMERS
|g
HAViORSKNIHGSIHSTITUTTET
T h f C v p h i 's
IN S TITU TE
ibw
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Danfik AJcvakultur
M U SH O LM
Ho rimare.
H V Í.LP S U N D
ÍTÜ®
N I ET
F ^ R O M A
N orW inc
I N S T A L L EF
ü
[S I’ K \
I a It r e
v s n i R.VIA i:< Lj i m i 1:4
Ö i H . Ö N * f c B v R C M *T > 0
V L IZ
D is c la im e r: The c o n te n t o f th is b rochure m ust not be ta ke n as an
expression o f p o licie s and stra te g ie s o f th e involved p ro je c t p a rt­
ners, b u t as a th e o re tic a l stu d y th a t has to be fu rth e r e la b o ra te d
and analysed be fore p o te n tia l c o m m e rc ia liz a tio n .
P ro je c t c o o rd in a to r
P ro f. E r ik D a m g a a rd C h ris te n s e n
D TU M e c h a n ic a l E n g in e e rin g
T e c h n ic a l U n iv e rs ity o f D e n m a rk
e d c h @ m e k .d tu .d k
C ita tio n : P irle t, H .; C laus, S .; C op e ja n s, E .; D a m g a a rd C h ris te n s e n , E .;
G ua nche G a rc ia , R .; M p h le n b e rg , F.; Rappé, K .; S c h o u te n , J .- J . ; Z a n u ttig h ,
B. ( 2 0 1 4 ) The M e rm a id p r o je c t - In n o v a tiv e M u lti- P u rp o s e O ffs h o re P la t­
fo rm s . F la n d e rs M a rin e I n s t it u te ( V L I Z ) : O ste nd. IS B N 9 7 8 - 9 0 - 8 2 0 7 3 1 9 - 5 . 2 0 pp.
The M E R M A ID p r o je c t has re c e iv e d fu n d in g fr o m th e E u ro p e a n U n io n 's
S even th F ra m e w o rk P ro g ra m m e fo r re s e a rc h , te c h n o lo g ic a l d e v e lo p m e n t
an d d e m o n s tra tio n u n d e r g ra n t a g re e m e n t no 2 8 8 7 1 0 (to ta l b u d g e t o f 7 .4
m illio n e u ro s ).
P ic tu re s by V an G in d e rd e u re n , K .; H v a lp s u n d N e t, S e y s ,T . & P irle t, H . © .
w w w .m e rm a id p ro je c t.e u