Strengthening the resilience of our infrastructure in the North Sea requires smart cooperation and innovative solutions. Timely detection and interpretation of (potential) threats call for an expansion of sensor capacity. However, sensors at sea require a reliable energy supply. Traditional solutions such as solar panels and batteries are not always practical in the maritime environment. At the same time, the North Sea offers an energy source that is available almost continuously: wave energy.
Collaboration for maritime innovation
The Ministry of Defence is working together with Rijkswaterstaat, WECO and other partners on innovative solutions for maritime applications. Within this framework, a WECO energy buoy is being tested in a maritime test environment operated by Rijkswaterstaat.
Testing an energy buoy in a maritime test environment
The trial focuses on gaining knowledge and experience with this new technology. The collaboration demonstrates how government bodies and Dutch innovation partners strengthen each other in the development and testing of innovative maritime solutions.
More efficient wave energy for long-term power supply
According to the developers, this technology is twice as efficient as conventional wave energy converters. This enables the energy buoy to supply offshore sensors with power over extended periods, thereby contributing to improved monitoring and protection of vital offshore infrastructure.
First practical experience at Campus@Sea
Previously, the energy buoy was tested for one day at Campus@Sea. This community brings together government, industry, knowledge institutions and the local environment to accelerate maritime innovation. The first field test produced valuable insights and marked an important step towards a more extensive testing phase.
Extended test phase at the Offshore Expertise Centre
In the coming period, the energy buoy will be tested offshore for a duration of three months at Rijkswaterstaat’s Offshore Expertise Centre, located near the Haringvliet sluices. The Offshore Expertise Centre offers a unique test environment where both existing and innovative maritime technologies can be evaluated under realistic conditions.
Crucial insights for deployment in the North Sea
The insights gained during this test phase are crucial for further refining the technology and ultimately deploying it under the most extreme conditions in the North Sea. In this way, we work together on innovation, knowledge development in the Netherlands and a resilient North Sea.
