At a crucial moment for Europe’s energy future, the decarbonization of the economy and access to more sustainable and competitive energy sources are becoming priorities, with offshore wind energy being one of the solutions with the greatest potential – despite the persistent challenges in the construction, maintenance, and monitoring of offshore infrastructures.
It is in this context that WP07 of the ATE Agenda – Alliance for Energy Transition assumes a strategic role. This work package aims to develop innovative technologies for the production of offshore renewable electricity, focusing on wind energy, advancing in the construction and maintenance of offshore infrastructures, and ensuring their effective structural and environmental monitoring.
The issue is clear: how to make floating wind platforms more sustainable, economical, and durable? The answer from WP07 lies in the development of reinforced concrete floating platforms for offshore wind, which are more sustainable and economically competitive. The solution unfolds in two complementary fronts: on one hand, the industrialization of the manufacturing of platforms, and on the other, the validation of an innovative model with embedded sensors capable of ensuring effective structural and environmental monitoring.
During the first quarter of 2025, this consortium held working meetings to detail activities, define expected outputs, and prepare for technical execution. The results were quick to come, with the following activities being developed by each of the partners:
i) Etermar: selected the float model to be built and planned the operations for the execution of the monitoring system;
ii) Inesc Tec: developed and tested sensor modules for monitoring dissolved CO₂, relative humidity, corrosion, and carbonation;
iii) Wavec: implemented the environmental monitoring station and developed the first versions of a digital twin in a web application to transmit real-time data from the station installed at Etermar’s port terminal and the floating platform.
iv) Forum Oceano plays a central role in promoting and energizing this project, ensuring coordination with the blue economy ecosystem and enhancing synergies among the different actors in the sector.
Luís Machado, General Director of Etermar Energia highlights “This collaboration between Etermar, Wavec, InescTec, and Forum Oceano demonstrates the capability of the Portuguese market to contribute to the development and manufacturing of more efficient and sustainable technologies for the floating offshore wind energy market. With accumulated experience of over 50 years in the construction of floating steel and concrete structures, at Etermar, we want to positively contribute to the acceleration of the development of projects that harness our oceans as a crucial source of renewable energy generation.”
This project is being developed within the scope of the Mobilizing Agenda for Energy Transition (ATE), funded by the PRR – Recovery and Resilience Plan.
