COB helps offshore innovations move faster from concept to sea

From floating wind turbines and solar panels to tidal energy systems and nature-inclusive offshore structures, an increasing number of technologies have to withstand harsh offshore conditions. For developers, it is therefore crucial to test designs at an early stage before moving towards offshore demonstration projects or commercial deployment.

The Coastal & Ocean Basin (COB) at Ostend Science Park plays an important role in this process. The research infrastructure is managed by a consortium consisting of Ghent University, KU Leuven and Flanders Hydraulics, and forms part of a growing European network of testing facilities for offshore renewable energy.

Ahead of the MARINERG-i stakeholder workshop taking place at COB on 8 October, we spoke with Maximilian Streicher, Director of the Coastal & Ocean Basin. He explains how COB helps companies bring offshore innovations to practical application more quickly and with reduced risk.

At COB, researchers and technology developers can simulate waves and currents at scale and study their impact on offshore structures and installations. This supports a wide range of applications, including coastal protection, offshore infrastructure and offshore renewable energy.

"Today, we test here what will have to withstand the sea tomorrow," says Maximilian Streicher. "Companies can study their technology or design at a small scale, with far lower risks and costs than if they were to test directly offshore."

What makes COB unique is its ability to generate waves and currents independently and from different directions, allowing them to act simultaneously on a structure. This provides a closer approximation of real offshore conditions than many traditional testing facilities.

Over recent years, COB has supported research into a broad range of innovations. These include wave energy devices, floating solar panels, tidal technologies and offshore foundations.

COB also played a role in the development of the Princess Elisabeth Island, the future energy island off the Belgian coast. Structures related to cable landings were tested at the facility before being deployed in the North Sea.

Interest in nature-inclusive solutions is also increasing. Offshore infrastructure must not only be safe and stable but is increasingly expected to contribute to biodiversity as well.

"Demand from the sector is growing. How can we replace traditional protection systems with solutions that also create space for marine life? And what does that mean for the performance of those structures? These are the kinds of questions we can investigate here," says Streicher.

Although COB is a large-scale research infrastructure, it is not exclusively aimed at large companies or international consortia. Many projects originate from a specific technical challenge faced by a technology developer or SME. Examples include mooring systems, structural loads, design stability or the interaction between multiple technologies.

Companies can work directly with COB, participate through research projects or access testing opportunities through European programmes that support technology validation.

"We are certainly open to SMEs," says Streicher. "Companies often come to us with a specific challenge or an innovative concept. Together, we examine how it can be tested and what expertise is required."

Thanks to the collaboration between Ghent University, KU Leuven and Flanders Hydraulics, users benefit not only from the infrastructure itself but also from extensive scientific and technical expertise.

COB and Ghent University are part of MARINERG-i, a European research infrastructure that brings together test facilities and offshore test sites for renewable energy technologies.

The initiative aims to accelerate technological development by providing companies and researchers with access to specialised infrastructure, expertise and testing capabilities across Europe. It also promotes knowledge exchange, the standardisation of testing methods and the development of joint research agendas.

For Belgian companies, this means access to far more than a single test facility.

According to Streicher, this is one of MARINERG-i's major strengths: "A technology developer requiring a specific testing capability does not necessarily have to remain in Belgium. Through MARINERG-i, they gain access to a European network of research infrastructures and expertise."

Belgium is also playing a prominent role in shaping the next phase of the initiative. Together with Ireland and the United Kingdom, it is among the countries helping to guide the future development of MARINERG-i.

On 8 October, COB will organise a national stakeholder workshop dedicated to MARINERG-i. Participants will gain greater insight into the network, future funding opportunities and the vision for testing infrastructure for SMEs from both Belgian and European perspectives. At the same time, COB aims to identify the needs and expectations of companies, researchers and policymakers.

Which technologies are becoming increasingly important? Where do the greatest challenges currently lie? Which testing facilities are still lacking? And how can European research infrastructures respond more effectively?

According to Streicher, this feedback is essential: "We want to understand where the sector is heading, the challenges technology developers are facing and what infrastructure will be needed in the future. This input helps us further develop our facilities and make the right decisions at European level as well."

The offshore sector is evolving rapidly. Floating wind farms, hybrid energy systems, offshore data centres, nature-inclusive infrastructure and new combinations of offshore energy generation are creating increasingly complex challenges. At the same time, the need for reliable testing and validation methods continues to grow in order to bring innovations to market more quickly.

COB and Ghent University intend to maintain an active role in this process, not only as Flemish research infrastructures but also as parts of an international network.

"Come and discover the research infrastructure that is already available in Flanders today," concludes Streicher. "Through COB and the wider European network surrounding it, companies have many opportunities to further develop their technologies and prepare them for the next step."