France Energies Marines Launches €10 Million Offshore Wind Research

France Energies Marines has launched four new research and innovation projects with a combined investment of nearly €10 million. The initiatives, approved by the board and involving 33 public and private partners, will start in autumn 2026.

These projects aim to solve critical technical and environmental challenges. They target both fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind. The goal is to enhance installation reliability, cut operating costs, and improve marine environment integration.

Project focus areas

The four initiatives target specific barriers to offshore wind expansion. They will study the cumulative impacts of human activities on marine ecosystems. Research will also focus on the durability of synthetic mooring lines. Another project will monitor biofouling on offshore structures. The final initiative will measure atmospheric turbulence using LiDAR technology.

Key projects and their goals

Each project has a distinct technical mission. ACT NOW aims to make modeling tools operational for assessing the cumulative environmental effects of offshore wind farms and other activities. QUANTUM will develop automated image analysis to detect species on structures. It will also create standardized biocolonization monitoring protocols and conduct an eco-design study to enhance the artificial reef effect.

The TULIP project develops software for measuring turbulence intensity using fixed and floating LiDAR systems. This builds on research since 2021. The software aims for accuracy that meets industry standards and provides confidence for project financiers. Lidar deployment costs are significantly lower than using offshore meteorological masts.

GLAMOOR investigates the long-term degradation of polyamide 6 (PA 6) synthetic ropes in seawater. Synthetic fibers are favored over steel chains for floating wind due to their low weight, ease of installation, and damping properties. The project will examine how seawater affects the ropes' mechanical properties and fatigue resistance.

Investment and timeline

The total investment for the four projects is nearly €10 million. Work is scheduled to begin in autumn 2026. The outcomes are designed to provide offshore wind stakeholders with new methodologies and practical solutions. Tools developed from over a decade of research, like those in ACT NOW, will be transferred to industry as software and methods for environmental assessments and decision-support.

Jean-François Filipot, Science Director at France Energies Marines, linked the research to broader energy and climate needs. He said that large-scale renewable energy deployment is essential amid energy security challenges and visible climate change impacts. Through collaborative projects, the institute aims to accelerate offshore wind development. It seeks to improve wind farm competitiveness, enhance system reliability, and strengthen the technology's integration within marine ecosystems and the socio-economic environment. The tools and methodologies developed will be transferred to industry stakeholders as solutions for environmental assessments and decision-making.