The OWI-Project, Offshore Wind Infrastructure Project, was a joint R&D initiative set up by leading wind energy companies 3E, ZF Wind Power Antwerpen NV, CG Power Systems, DEME and GeoSea, along with Agoria (Belgium's federation for the technology industry), Generaties (the innovation platform for renewable energy technology in Flanders), Sirris (the collective centre of the Belgian technology industry) and VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) with a project duration between 2010 and 2014.
The scope of the projects consisted of:
- The design and realisation of a number of investments (5.5 milj€) with regard to state-of-the-art test and monitoring infrastructure: a test facility with large climatic test chamber for extreme temperature component testing, development of a "Floating Lidar system" (Flidar), the development of test & monitoring tools for offshore R&D measurements and asset monitoring (drivetrain condition monitoring, structural health monitoring, ...).
- The creation of a platform to initiate industry-driven local and European research and innovation projects.
- The creation of dedicated R&D and innovation projects with the aim to reduce the COE with regard to offshore wind energy throughout the whole value chain of the sector (project development, engineering, component suppliers, installation, operations & maintenance,...
As a reply to these goals, OWI-Lab (Offshore Wind Infrastructure Application Lab) was set up with the support of the Flemish government. Dedicated services, projects, and products were set up between 2010 and 2014. Meanwhile, more than 35 companies and knowledge institutions are already involved in the initiative. OWI-Lab is embedded within Sirris, the collective centre for and by the Belgian technological industry.
Article to news page: The wind industry inaugurates the OWI-Lab's unique facilities
