OCEANIC inspects MRE coatings

WavEC’s environmental team has performed a midterm survey of the coatings being developed for marine renewable energy technologies under the OCEANIC project.

The team performed two different dives at WaveRoller test site location in Peniche, off Portugal, back in November, to obtain the footage of the panels after two months of deployment.

The tested coatings included different adhesion methods such as thermal spray aluminum and vinyl esters, with different biocide composition.

The structural integrity of the support construction was assessed and each panel was photographed for posterior analyses and coating efficiency verification, OCEANIC informed.

After 6 months of immersion the structures and panels will be retrieved and marine growth and corrosion in metallic panels will be assessed.

Results are expected to provide inputs on what type of methods and materials should be used to decrease marine growth and corrosion and to improve marine renewable energy (MRE) materials and components resistance and reliability.

Also, the results will be used to provide informed advice on anti-fouling and anti-corrosion coatings for WaveRoller wave energy device developers.

WavEC is a non-profit research and innovation center based in Lisbon, Portugal, specialized in wave energy and offshore wind.

OCEANIC project received financial support through the Oceanera-Net international collaborative initiative, and its aim is to develop systems for surfaces protection to provide the ocean energy sector with the solutions to improve its reliability and project’s life time.