France Energies Marines has approved four new research and innovation projects involving 33 public and private partners, with a combined investment of nearly EUR 10 million.
The projects, due to start in autumn 2026, will address technical, environmental, and operational issues affecting both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind.
The four initiatives will focus on cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems, the durability of synthetic mooring lines, biofouling and biocolonisation of offshore structures, and atmospheric turbulence measurements using LiDAR.
The ACT NOW project will develop operational modelling tools for assessing the cumulative effects of offshore wind farms and other human activities on marine ecosystems. France Energies Marines said the tools, developed through more than ten years of research, will be transferred to industry as methodologies and software for environmental assessments and decision-making.
GLAMOOR will investigate the long-term degradation of polyamide 6 (PA 6) ropes used for permanent mooring systems. The project will examine how seawater affects the mechanical properties and fatigue resistance of the synthetic fibres, which are increasingly being considered as an alternative to steel chains for floating wind applications.
The QUANTUM project will develop standardised methods to monitor biocolonisation of offshore wind structures and create databases to quantify it. It will also develop automated image analysis to identify species on submerged structures and carry out an in-situ study of eco-designed structures aimed at enhancing the artificial reef effect associated with offshore wind farms.
TULIP will develop software for measuring turbulence intensity using both fixed and floating LiDAR systems. The project builds on research carried out by France Energies Marines since 2021 and aims to produce measurements that meet industry standards and provide a level of confidence suitable for offshore wind project financing.
“At a time of energy security challenges and increasingly visible impacts of climate change, the large-scale deployment of renewable energy is essential. Through its collaborative projects, France Energies Marines is accelerating the development of offshore wind by improving the competitiveness of wind farms, enhancing the reliability of wind energy systems, and strengthening the integration of these technologies within marine ecosystems and the wider socio-economic environment”, said Jean-François Filipot, Scientific Director of France Energies Marines.
The French research institute has also been involved in the EUR 16 million RHODÉ project, launched earlier this year with six other partners to develop floating high-voltage direct current technology for deepwater offshore wind. The project is targeting future 320 kV and 525 kV floating HVDC connections in France.