Lead Through Expertise - Test facilities for all your blue growth innovations

LEAD THROUGH EXPERTISE TEST FACILITIES FOR ALL YOUR BLUE GROWTH INNOVATIONS

Marine Robotics Centre

Simon Stevin Research vessel

Wave flumes

Large Climatic Test Chamber

Port of Ostend

OSTEND Blue Accelerator 4 Port of Ostend 6 Marine Robotics Centre 8 Simon Stevin Research Vessel 10 Marine Station Ostend 12 Coastal & Ocean Basin 14

BELGIUM

ANTWERP Large Climatic Test Chamber Wave basin Current flumes

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ZWIJNAARDE

Wave flumes

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Coastal & Ocean Basin

Current flumes

Blue Accelerator

INTRODUCTION The broader West-Flanders area offers a whole chain of test facilities, ranging from TRL 1 to 9. The several test facilities each have special features which will convince you to test your new technology at this location. The greatest asset of this chain of test facilities is that they are located within a range of maximum 100 km and inbedded in a large blue growth network of expertise.

Moreover, these test facilities are complementary in terms of the development process, which means that you can start with basic technology research for your product at one test facility and end with system testing, launch and operations testing at another test facility in the same area.

POM West-Flanders and its partners can offer you – in this specific region – a total offer of test facilities, within the whole range of TRL, for testing your product. These partners, supported by a whole network of expertise, can accommodate your business for every testing you would like to execute.

So just read this brochure and find the test facility you are looking for… for now and the future testing process of your product!

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BLUE ACCELERATOR POM WEST FLANDERS 1 Description • A maritime innovation- and development platform • A living lab test site for developing, testing or demonstrating in real life sea conditions, supported by a strong local blue economy network

2 TRL 4-7 3 Dimensions • Height: research platform 25 m (mudline to platform topdeck) • Diameter tower at water surface 1.22 m • Dimensions platform (approximate) • Length: 7 m • Width: 3.5 m • Height: 4 m

4 Unique Selling Point (USP)

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• Fast and easy access to the facilities • Pre-approved test site

Blue Accelerator POM West Flanders

• Customised support realised by a strong network of academics, industry & government

5 Testing possibilities • Energy conversion testing such as wave, tidal, PV… • Corrosion research (coating validation, detection methods… ) • Drone and AUV testing (above, on and under water) • Wide range of sensor & telecom studies (subsea, above sea, in the monopile… ) • Cable testing (including manipulations, protection assessments… ) • Aquaculture and marine growth

6 Contact and location • Email: info@blueaccelerator.be • Location: North Sea – 500 m offshore

7 Website • www.blueaccelerator.be

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TEST LOCATION PORT OF OSTEND PORT OF OSTEND 1 Description

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• Infrastructure for research • Port as an open innovation center • Test sites onshore & offshore • Research & development, supporting and encouraging new and rapidly developing companies • Staff training, skill development & safety management • Involvement in development of tools/testing • Port of Ostend has been involved in the development of several wave energy converters • Coating • Drones • Energy pontoon (“Blue power Synergy”) • Floating infrastructure • IoT and datatransfer • Maritime infrastructure (quays, pontoons, fenders, terminal surface, pilots... ) • Industrial services (welding, electricity works)

Port of Ostend Port of Ostend

2 TRL 4-7 3 Dimensions • Maximum water depth: 8-13 m

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • Direct contact possibilities • No administration • Easy accessibility

5 Testing possibilities • See 1. description

6 Contact and location • Email: info@portofoostende.be • Location: Port of Ostend, Slijkensesteenweg 2, 8400 Oostende (testing: outer harbour)

7 Website: • www.portofoostende.be/activity/innovation-development

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ROV Genesis

MARINE ROBOTICS CENTRE FLANDERS MARINE INSTITUTE 1 Description • A knowledge centre on marine robotics, providing access to the newest technologies concerning marine research • Equipment: - Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) - Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV) - Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV)

2 TRL 3 Dimensions/functions

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• AUV Barabas: Gavia from Teledyne Marine, operational till depths of 1000 m • USV Adhemar: Autonaut from Seiche, remotely controlled for 24/7, able to carry out measurements of atmosphere and water (surface) for weeks to months • ROV Genesis: remotely operated underwater robot, used for inspection, exploration and sampling purposes - Can dive to a depth of 1.300 m - Dimensions: length: 1.4 m; width: 1.11 m; heigth: 1.11 m - Hydraulic working arm, HR-cameras

Marine Robotics Centre Flanders Marine Institute

AUV Barabas

USV Adhemar

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • Presence of state-of-the-art instruments and associated expertise to facilitate novel tests

5 Testing possibilities • see 3. Dimensions

6 Contact and location • Email: mrc@vliz.be • Location: Halve Maan site, Slipwaykaai 2, 8400 Ostend

7 Website • www.vliz.be/en/marine-robotics-centre - AUV Barabas

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RESEARCH VESSEL SIMON STEVIN FLANDERS MARINE INSTITUTE 1 Description • Multidisciplinary research vessel for (academic) coast related oceanographic research • Equipment: equipment for sampling of seabed, seawater and marine organisms; sonar techniques (current measurement and multibeam); dynamic positioning system; data acquisition system…

• Several marine research disciplines • Trainingsplatform for students (marine sciences and maritime education) • Testplatform for new technologies • Used for European research infrastructure projects

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2 TRL -

Research Vessel Simon Flanders Marine Institute

3 Dimensions • Length: 36 m • Width: 9.4 m • Depth: 3.5 m

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • A flexible and state of the art research vessel for coastal and oceanographic research

5 Testing possibilities • Facilitation of all kind of offshore tests

6 Contact and location • Email: infrastructuur@vliz.be • Location: 8400 Ostend

7 Website • www.vliz.be/en/rv-simon-stevin

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MARINE STATION OSTEND MSO – FLANDERS MARINE INSTITUTE 1 Description • Coastal satellite lab, available for all Flemish marine scientists.

• MSO comprises multifunctional labs, provides storage capacity for scientific equipment and has space for public activities

2 TRL 3 Dimensions

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• Warehouse 1: contains a large cold room (100 m²) with seawater tanks, acting as an experimental environment (mesocosm). Also acts as a storage and processing location for marine archeological heritage.

Marine Station Ostend Flanders Marine Institute

• Warehouse 2: comprises the main part of the laboratories of the MSO: a Lifewatch lab for plankton research (37 m²), a DNA lab (33 m²) and an ICOS laboratory for research on the marine carbon cycle (48 m²). In addition, a brand new microscopy lab is present.

• Warehouse 3: is mainly a working environment: presence of most of the technical infrastructure (technical workspaces, storage).

• Warehouse 4: acts as a storage location for the majority of the scientific material and as an area for public activities.

At present, a new marine robotics lab is being installed in this warehouse.

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • Multidisciplinary testing facilities • Easy access to the coast and sea • Availibility of seawater in the labs (a new seawater pipeline is being installed)

5 Testing possibilities • Testing with living organisms • Testing including seawater (e.g. corrosion) • Technological preparation for offshore tests

6 Contact and location • Email: infrastructuur@vliz.be • Location: in 4 former warehouses at the “Halve Maan” site at the eastern bank of the Ostend harbor

7 Website • www.vliz.be/en/marine-station-ostend

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COASTAL & OCEAN BASIN WAVE TANK FACILITY CONSORTIUM UGENT – KU LEUVEN – FLANDERS HYDRAULICS RESEARCH 1 Description • Large concrete structure filled with water in which waves, currents and wind can be generated in a controlled matter in any relative direction • Scale models of offshore structures, structures for coastal protection, floating wind turbines, wave energy converters… can be placed in this wave basin to study their design and behaviour under the influence of waves, currents and wind

2 TRL 1-4 3 Dimensions • Length: 30 m • Width: 30 m • Deep: 1.4 m • Pit in middle of the basin allows experiments with mooring lines at a depth in excess of 4 m

4 Unique Selling Point (USP)

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• Availability of waves up to 0.5 m, and currents of 0.4 m/s, in water depths up to 1.4 m • Combined generation of waves and currents in any relative direction

Coastal & Ocean Basin wave tank facility consortium UGent – KU Leuven Flanders Hydraulics Research

5 Testing possibilities • See 4. USP

6 Contact and location • Email: COB@ugent.be • Location: Ostend Science Park, 8400 Ostend

7 Website • www.cob.ugent.be

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LARGE CLIMATIC TEST CHAMBER SIRRIS/OWI-LAB 1 Description: • Environmental testing of large & heavy machinery for offshore climates, cold climates, icing climates and hot/ humid climates • Main focus: test and validation of multi-MW wind turbine components in the field of extreme temperature testing (gearboxes and drivetrains, bearings, transformers, yaw & pitch systems, drive trains… ) • Large scale system testing of protypes for design validation and certification • Mechanical, hydraulic and electrical turbine components up to 150 tones can be system tested in a temperature range from climatic conditions - -60°C to +60°C extreme temperatures - High humidity: up to 95% RH - Infrared heat 950 W/m² - Offshore splash icing or atmospheric icing conditions • Range of additional test, measurement and instrumentation services

2 TRL 6-9 3 Dimensions

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• Length: 10,6 m • Width: 7 m • Heigth: 8 m • Test area space: 560 m³

Large Climatic Test Chamber Sirris/OWI-lab

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • Cold start-up testing of large equipment down to -60°C • 2.1MW R&D gearbox and cold start test-bench available for lubrication R&D projects • Cystem testing of multi-MW electrical equipment (50Hz/60Hz)

5 Testing possibilities • Gearbox & drivetrain tests • Lubrication & hydraulic tests • Generator and inverter tests • Transformer testing • Pitch & yaw testing • R&D test campaigns • Icing testing

6 Contact and location • Email: labo.antwerpen@sirris.be • Location: Port of Antwerp, Muisbroeklaan portquay 482 (warehouse located at Zuid-Natie breakbulk terminal), 2030 Antwerp

7 Website • www.sirris.be/largest-climatic-test-chamber-in-europe

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WAVE BASIN FLANDERS HYDRAULICS RESEARCH Multidirectional wave basin 1 Description • A state-of-the-art shallow water wave basin equipped with a multi-element wave paddle, constructed in 2016 in accordance with existing international standards.

• Both long-crested oblique waves and short-crested waves (from various directions at the same time) can be generated. Simultaneously, active wave absorption is applied to minimise wave reflection at the wave paddle.

• 3D scale models can be built in this wave basin to conduct research.

2 TRL 1 to 4 3 Dimensions

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• Length: 23.20 m • Width: 17.90 m (paddle 12.00 m) • Height: 1.20 m • Wave height: max. 0.25 m

Wave Basin Flanders Hydraulics Research

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • Shallow water wave basin with state-of-the-art wave generation including active wave absorption: regular waves (perpendicular and oblique), long-crested and shortcrested irregular waves with any wave spectrum, focussed wave groups.

• Custom built scale model research.

5 Testing possibilities • Research of custom built 3D structures and geometries, on specific topics such as wave overtopping over dikes, water pressure and wave force on structures, etc.

6 Contact and location • Email: waterbouwkundiglabo@vlaanderen.be • Location: Flanders Hydraulics Research, Berchemlei 115, 2140 Antwerp

7 Website • www.waterbouwkundiglaboratorium.be/en/wave-tank

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CURRENT FLUMES FLANDERS HYDRAULICS RESEARCH Multifunctional modular large flow flume 1 Description • A large flow flume constructed from modular elements, a unique concept developed at FHR. The modularity of this flow flume makes it possible to adapt the dimensions and characteristics of the flume to the test program.

2 TRL 1 to 4 3 Dimensions • Length: 27.00 m • Width: 0.75 m • Height: 1.50 m (max. Water depth: 1.45 m) • Discharge: min 16 l/s, max 275 l/s

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • Both left and right wall of the flume are transparent (glass). The right flume wall is equipped with back lights.

The left flume wall is equipped with 11 IDS camera’s to capture the flow pattern over the full length of the flume.

• Due to its modularity both length and width can be adjusted and the flume itself can be placed under a an angle.

The discharge range is also be adjustable.

5 Testing possibilities • Research on specific topics such as current patterns, overflow levees, in- and outlet sluices, stilling basin design, vertical slot fish passages…

6 Contact and location • Email: waterbouwkundiglabo@vlaanderen.be • Location: Flanders Hydraulics Research, Berchemlei 115, 2140 Antwerp

7 Website

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• www.waterbouwkundiglaboratorium.be/en/ facilities-and-tools/physical-modelling/current-flumes

Current Flumes Flanders Hydraulics Research

PTV flume 1 Description • A small flow flume with maximum visual accessibility for performing visual measurements like Particle Tracking Velocimetry (PTV) and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV).

2 TRL 1 to 4 3 Dimensions • Length: 4.00 m • Width: 0.40 m • Height: 0.40 m • Discharge: min 1.6 l/s, max 32 l/s

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • The model can run as a closed conduit as well as with a free surface.

• The design is optimized for performing 3D PTV measurements with an LaVision MiniShaker.

5 Testing possibilities • Both hydraulic optimisation (of parts) of hydraulic structures as well as fundamental fluid research.

• Due to the possibility to measure 3D PTV time resolved flow patterns the model is ideal for validating CFD simulations.

• The model is designed in such a way that it is possible to exchange the rectangular flume with a specific geometry (manifold… ) or with another flume (circular… )

6 Contact and location • Email: waterbouwkundiglabo@vlaanderen.be • Location: Flanders Hydraulics Research, Berchemlei 115, 2140 Antwerp

7 Website • www.waterbouwkundiglaboratorium.be/en/facilities-and-tools/physical-modelling/current-flumes

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WAVE FLUMES UGENT Large Wave Flume 1 Description • large concrete structure filled with water in which waves and currents can be generated in a controlled matter in the same or opposite directions • Scale models of offshore structures, structures for coastal protection, floating wind turbines, wave energy converters… can be placed in this wave flume to study their design and behaviour under the influence of waves and currents in two dimensions (vertical plane)

2 TRL 1-4 3 Dimensions • Length: 30 m • Width: 1 m • Height: 1.2 m • Design water depth: 0.80 m • Maximum wave height: about 0.35 m

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • Very accurate generation and absorption of (2nd order and long) wave fields • Dimensions optimal for research and commercial projects

5 Testing possibilities • See 3. Dimensions

6 Contact and location • Email: AWW@ugent.be • Location: Technologiepark 60, 9052 Zwijnaarde

7 Website

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• www.ugent.be/ea/civil-engineering/en/research/coastalbridges-roads/coastal-engineering/infrastructure-services

Wave flumes UGent

Small Wave Flume 1 Description • Exploring wave dynamics and allow researchers to get a better understanding of waves and wave/structure interaction in a small flume

2 TRL 1-4 3 Dimensions • Length: 15.0 m • Width: 0.35 m • Height: 0.60 m • Design water depth: 0.30 m • Maximum wave height: about 0.20 m

4 Unique Selling Point (USP) • Perfect for a first cheap and fast test campaign to get directly physical insight

5 Testing possibilities • See 3. Dimensions

6 Contact and location • Email: AWW@UGent.be • location: Technologiepark 60, 9052 Zwijnaarde

7 Website • www.ugent.be/ea/civil-engineering/en/research/coastalbridges-roads/coastal-engineering/infrastructure-services

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This brochure was sponsored by MET-certified, an Interreg project supported by the 2 Seas Programme of the European Regional Development Fund of the European Union�

MET-CERTIFIED European Regional Development Fund

Looking for other test facilities in Europe? Have a look on www.testfacilities.eu This website was made in the framework of Inn2POWER, within the Interreg North Sea Region Programme.