11 / 05 / 2018
Simulation of Blue Accelerator platform 500 meters outside the port of Ostend. Depending on the tide, the construction will protrude 13-18 meters above sea level. © NEMOS
The Blue Accelerator project is funded for 1,5 million euros by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with co-financing of 735.400 euros by the Flemish government (Hermes fund). The test platform will be developed by the Provincial Development Company (POM) West Flanders and will be exploited until 2033.
VLIZ is – just like Ghent University, VIVES University of Applied Science, VITO and TUA West – involved as a scientific partner in the project. Specifically VLIZ will be responsible to carry out measurements of environmental parameters on and near the test platform, to provide scientific and technical support in carrying out the tests, and to act as a point of contact for knowledge institutes.
It is anticipated that the following measurements, research and tests will be carried out on the platform (non-exhaustive): wave energy conversion, corrosion and abrasion research, cable manipulations, research on resistive resistance, materials research, meteorological measurement mast, research on underwater substrates, research on stratification, drone platform, ROV and kite technology … The test setups take place both in the context of research by knowledge institutes and commercial companies.
Contact at VLIZ: Hans Pirlet and André Cattrijsse