Welcome to our 2nd newsletter!
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AQUAWIND - Innovative multi-use prototype combining offshore renewable energy and aquaculture in the Atlantic Basin
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Over the past year, AquaWind has been hard at work, harnessing the power of innovation to merge offshore renewable energy and aquaculture in the Atlantic Basin in preparation for the pilot testing of the W2Power prototype. This newsletter serves as your compass, guiding you through the exciting journey we have embarked upon and sharing the milestones achieved so far.
Join us as we dive deep into the project's progress, events, recent results, and more!
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Lights, Camera, Action! Dive into Our Project Overview Video
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Ever wondered what happens when renewable energy and aquaculture collide in the deep blue? Wonder no more! We are thrilled to present our Project Overview Video, offering an immersive glimpse into the heart of Aquawind to learn more about project objectives, partnership, main activities, and expected impacts.
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Exploring Breakthroughts: Regulatory & Technological Progress
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The ultimate aim of our project is to test and assess the feasibility of the AquaWind multi-use platform combining offshore energy and aquaculture in a series of real-environment demonstration trials.
With this purpose in mind, during the first year of the project, we have been busy in advancing the regulation pathway for the R&I trials of our multi-use platform and performing technological designs and upgrades.
We have worked on W2Power technical specifications such as wind energy subsystem, moorning, and electrical components. At the same time, the aqualculture cage and net have been designed in close collaboration with project partners and external providers such as ELIMAT at international level.
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Have Your Say: Pre-Demonstration Survey
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One of AquaWind's objectives is the implementation of an inclusive consultation process, engaging stakeholders at regional, national, and EU level, prioritising public administrations, academia, business sector, as well as social agents including business associations, fishermen and civil society.
To fulfill this aim, the project focuses on the implementation of a wide range of activities to support stakeholder involvement. A key one is the promotion of an online survey before the implementation of the demonstration trials. The aim is to collect the feedback and the perceptions of the general public about the benefits of offshore energy in combination with aquaculture, the development of multi-use projects, and overall, the upcoming AquaWind prototype testing.
The survey is anonymous and easy to complete. We look forward to receiving your opinions!
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Discover First Results & Deliverables
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Our journey is marked by milestones, and we are excited to share our most recent accomplishments with you. Visit our website to read in-depth about the project's progress, events, and latest news. You can also consult the first project deliverables, freely downlodable from the AquaWind website.
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We have participated in several key events, engaging with fellow enthusiasts, fishery communities, businesses, policy makers, and experts who share our passion for marine sustainable innovation.
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AquaWind surprises at the Cádiz National Aquaculture Congress
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In November 2022, AquaWind attended the XVIII National Aquaculture Congress, presenting its pioneering activities combining aquaculture production with an offshore energy platform. An innovative initiative that promises to bring real development opportunities at the national level...
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AquaFuture Spain receives the AquaWind project during its first day
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AquaWind project was presented at AquaFuture Spain 2023, one of the most renowned exhibitions within the aquaculture industry. Taking place at the Feira Internacional de Galicia Abanca exhibition center, near Santiago de Compostela...
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AquaWind continues with its stakeholder engagement actions! On 16-18th June 2023, the project was promoted by the Canary Islands’ Maritime Cluster at FIMAR 2023, the International Fair of the Sea, held in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria...
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AquaWind meets FLORA project
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On 1st June 2023, AquaWind has met the sister project "FLORA" in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The purpose was to discuss potential future synergies and collaborations. Similar to AquaWind, FLORA is also building a multi-use technology...
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Taking place in the iconic Austrian capital, Vienna, Aquaculture Europe 2023 (AE2023) was a perfect meeting place to discuss diversification in aquaculture. The event took place on 18th-21st September 2023.
The AE2023 parallel sessions covered the full scope of European aquaculture scientific disciplines and species. AE2023 also featured an international trade exhibition, industry forum, student sessions and activities, satellite workshops and updates on EU research.
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Floating Radar (FLORA) project presentation
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Funded by the EU Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF), as part of the Flagship Atlantic call 2021, FLOating RAdar (FLORA) is one of the AquaWind sister projects.
It aims to develop and demonstrate an industrial-scale prototype of a multi-purpose ocean station (FLORA Ocean Station) with renewable energy generation and operational oceanography capabilities. Like AquaWind, FLORA will be tested in the waters of Gran Canaria, Spain.
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Consultation for Energy Transition in EU Aquaculture
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The European Commission is taking a significant step towards advancing sustainable practices in the EU fisheries and aquaculture sector with the launch of a comprehensive consultation process set to commence in Autumn 2023.
Stakeholders are encouraged to voice their preferences regarding the operational framework of the Energy Transition Partnership, identifying obstacles hindering the energy transition within the fisheries and aquaculture and proposing key subjects to be addressed under the partnership’s purview.
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Unveiling the Aquawind Team: Consortium Composition
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In our previous newsletter, we have introduced the first four partners who have been instrumental in bringing the Aquawind Project to life. Now, let's widen the circle and introduce you to the rest of our partners, each contributing with their expertise to various facets of the AquaWind project.
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At the heart of Aquawind lies a consortium that embodies diversity, expertise, and innovation, hailing from three EU Member States — France, Portugal, and Spain. This dynamic collaboration consists of a rich tapestry of actors, including a regional authority, companies, a university, and a cluster of businesses and civil society organisations.
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The Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands (CMC) stands as a non-profit association established in the Canary Islands to be a place of meeting and dialogue between all the agents related to the sea. It is driven by a core mission: advancing the development and global competitiveness of the Canary Islands' marine sector. Notably, the cluster's engagement is pivotal within WP1 of the project, where it works in collaboration with PLOCAN and CE, contributing to the task of stakeholder engagement.
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Consulta Europa (CE), a Canary Islands-based SME, specialises in research, educational, and innovative projects. Established in 2009, it acts as a private local development agency and a knowledge hub, with the aim of providing innovative solutions at the European Union level for local problems in general and more specifically for the Canary Islands. In the AquaWind project, CE takes the reins of WP7, disseminating and communicating project activities and impacts in the pursuit of integrated multi-use solutions.
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INNOSEA is an independent technical engineering firm specialising in marine renewable energies: offshore wind (fixed and floating), tidal energy, wave energy and ocean thermal energy conversion. It is a spin-off company from the École Centrale de Nantes, whose experience and work on marine energy has been recognised in France and overseas for >30 years. In the AquaWind project, INNOSEA supports with the upgrade of the W2Power prototype.
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Established in 2003 as the Wave Energy Centre, WavEC Offshore Renewables is a private non-profit entity dedicated to advancing wave energy and bolstering related enterprises and research centres. WavEC has a track record in large offshore renewable projects in which it aims to develop sustainable solutions for the benefit of the blue economy. Its role in AquaWind is to bolster WP1 by crafting a dedicated Circular Approach model for the multi-use project, laying the foundation for a more sustainable future.
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Canexmar is a Canarian enterprise deeply rooted in aquaculture and specialised in the nurturing of sea bass and sea bream, primed for subsequent distribution within the regional and national markets. Endorsed by the prestigious GLOBALGAP certification, attesting to their adherence to top-notch production processes, Canexmar is involved in the progressive development and testing of the AquaWind aquaculture system.
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Charting the Future: Beyond Year One
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As we reflect on the positive achievements of our first year, we are invigorated by the exciting possibilities that lie ahead. In the following months, our consortium will work hard to finalise all the technical specifications and designs of the W2Power platform. Soon, we will execute the set-up and the preliminary testing of the aquaculture system, in the light of the pilot trials to be performed in real environment in 2024.
Join us as we embark on the next leg of this exciting voyage, and brace yourselves for the updates, breakthroughs and successes that await us in the coming years!
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Co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101077600. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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2023 © All rights reserved
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Promoting the sustainable blue economy: EMFAF Flagship call 2021 projects – a year on
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