Two LHEEA projects are award-winners in the 'Trophées de l’Innovation Océan'®

Initiatives abound at state and national/international organisation level to determine regulations that encourage economic operators to move towards more sustainable exploitation of the oceans. Achieving this objective also implies innovation and innovative action on the part of companies and organizations of all sizes whose activity impacts this environment. At a time when significant numbers of SMEs, start-ups, associations, university research centres are joining the "Blue Economy & Sustainable Development" dual initiative, helping these organisations to promote their innovations is necessary because implementation is often difficult due to high costs. The 'Trophées de l’Innovation Océan'® are intended to boost this promotion.

2 research projects currently underway in the LHEEA among the winners:

• FARWIND (EMO research group): The FARWIND project is exploring the potential of hydro-wind turbine ships for the production of renewable fuel from far offshore wind sources. The FARWIND concept has several advantages over other renewable energy sources: Firstly, it produces storable energy (liquid fuel) whereas solar and on- and off-shore wind turbines produce variable unavoidable energy (electricity). Secondly, it enables offshore wind energy to be increased by an order of magnitude. Finally, the exploitation of wind far offshore avoids the problems of societal acceptance and conflict of use from which other renewable sources often suffer.

• ePenon: monitoring the real-time aerodynamic performance of a sail or a wind turbine blade (DAUC research group): ePenon is a turbulent flow sensor on an aerofoil, which monitors the state of this flow (attached or detached) in real time on aerofoil. It is a technology derived from offshore racing, which is very useful in the wind energy sector as well as merchant shipping. In the wind energy sector, fine tuning the aerofoil of a wind turbine blade can increase efficiency, as well as reducing fatigue and, therefore, maintenance costs. This study is co-financed by ADEME and conducted by Mer Agitée in partnership with the LHEEA laboratory. (UMR6598), the CSTB of Nantes and EDF-EN Service.

 

See the full presentation of these projects and all the other innovations (in French) on: http://trophees-innovation-ocean.com/