welcome to united project website
''Ocean multi-use can potentially contribute to a more sustainable and efficient use of ocean resources, and provide tangible economic and environmental benefits. UNITED will promote ocean multi-use through the installation of real-world demonstration pilots, exploring technical, regulatory, economic, social and environmental requirements and impacts.''
UNITED PROJECT IN NEWS
A new documentary on German television network ZDF, titled 'SOS ocean - Help for an endangered habitat', highlights sustainable solutions to protect the world's oceans. The documentary, directed by Kristin Siebert and Tilman Wolff, focuses on projects from around the world that are committed to protecting the oceans from rising sea temperatures, pollution, and overfishing. One of the featured projects is the German pilot of the UNITED ocean multi-use project, which aims to farm sugar kelp on the seabed around offshore wind farms in the North Sea off Sylt.
A new documentary by German public broadcaster NDR, titled 'Algae cultivation between wind turbines', delves into the inner workings of the German UNITED pilot and its local awareness raising activities. In the documentary, viewers get an up-close look at the project's research facilities at Kiel University of Applied Sciences, where high school graduates are lending their support to the research efforts.
The Renewable Grid Initiative Offshore Nature 22 series aims to promote the use of offshore wind energy as a key component of the transition to a sustainable and carbon-neutral future. The series features interviews with experts in the field, including policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers. Nevejan's involvement in the series highlights the innovative approach being taken by Belgium's UNITED pilot project and the potential for similar projects to be implemented around the world.
Check out the commercialisation potential of our pilots
To showcase the commercialization potential of the project, UNITED has released a series of marketing flyers highlighting its key products and services.
Check them out:
News
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New Publications Released under UNITED Project Offer In-Depth Insights into Ocean Multi-Use Pilots
January 2023
Results of the first offshore diving missions and 2022 seaweed check-up within the Belgian pilot
APRIL 2022
Presenting UNITED and it’s Pilot at the WindEUROPE Conference in Copenhagen 2021
December 2021This year Dr. Tim Staufenberger (marine biologist and CEO of Kiel Marine Farm) of the German Pilot team
German Pilot Team welcomes Project Partner from University of Ghent / Informal Pilot Meeting at Kiel Marine Farm
Last week the German Pilot team welcomed the postdoctoral researcher Dr. Jessica Knoop from the Phycology group of Ghent University. Jessica is part of the Belgian offshore Pilot and involved in the seaweed installations. Over the past year, the working group tested different seeding techniques and strains.
UNITED 2nd webinar - get to know about ocean multi-use demonstration pilots!
on 27 October from 10-1PM CET (Berlin Time) and get to know about ocean multi-use demonstration pilots!
UNITED first press release is OUT!
UNITED does not only evaluate the viability of ocean multi-use on paper, it does so in the real world: the project is built around five demonstration pilots that put multi-use into practice, both in near-shore and off-shore environments. Learn more in the first project press release!
The Belgian pilot team is getting ready for offshore operations
When you are offshore, safety comes first! At the end of April, Annelies Declercq from the Belgian pilot team attended a STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) training, requested by the Belgian authorities to enter the offshore wind farms on a ship.
UNITED interactive multi-use Workshop Series starting soon
The UNITED team is happy to announce the start of a series of multi-use training workshops. The first public available workshop “Workshop Offshore Platform Operation, Safety and Logistics within the context of multi-use” will be held on October 26, 2021 in Kiel, Germany.
Greek pilots completes the rolling up of underwater sensors to link aquaculture & tourism
What is the environmental impact of the fish farm? And how do fish react to the presence of tourists? Underwater sensors and cameras are now ready to answer to these questions.
UNITED Partner 4HJena finishes final Touches of Benthic Lander
Scientists from the R&D Centre of the University of Applied Sciences Kiel GmbH are striking a challenging coup to better research hydrological conditions at far offshore located seaweed and mussel cultivation systems in the North Sea.
Seaweed Sampling and a Trip to Helgoland
As the operational phase of the UNITED project approaches, Pilot teams are working at full speed to make final preparations. For the German Pilot this means procuring seaweed strains from the North Sea, for professional propagation in a lab. The propagated seaweed seedlings will be later on seeded on longlines and nets to be installed close to the FINO3.
Dutch pilot hits the water: solar and seaweed together at sea for the first time
The Dutch pilot moved into deployment mode in October and November last year, installing offshore solar and seaweed farms in the North Sea. Despite COVID-19 complications and recent rough seas, the project partners forged ahead with set-up at the North Sea Farmers/ North Sea Innovation Lab site, 12km offshore from Scheveningen.
New UNITED video from the Danish demonstration pilot: Impressions from the tour to the Middelgrunden wind farm pilot!
On 20 September the UNITED pilot in Denmark organised a tour to two of its offshore turbines off the coast of Copenhagen. The video shows the main snapshots from the tour including the 20min boat trip to the offshore wind turbines, the view from the nacelle, and impressions from stakeholders who have joined the tour.November 2020: a busy month at the Belgian pilot!
At the beginning of November, under a bright autumn sun, the team of the Belgian pilot – one of the 5 demonstration pilots on multiple use of space within the HORIZON 2020 UNITED project – sailed to the Westdiep area, 5 km off the coast of Nieuwpoort on the Stream vessel.Middelgrunden Offshore wind farm open house day – boat tour and climbing the nacelle!
Get on a fishing vessel. Sail for about 20 minutes. Get off at the platform in the middle of the Baltic Sea. Climb up 12 sets of ladders. Look around. Let yourself be carried away by the stunning view.
Greek Pilot rolls out Underwater Sensors to link Aquaculture & Tourism
UNITED’s Greek pilot has taken its first steps towards linking aquaculture and diving tourism, installing a range of underwater cameras and sensors that will enable the project’s next steps.German Pilot Team implements Biofouling Test at Kiel Marine Farm
Biofouling is the accumulation of organisms, such as barnacles and algae, on underwater structures. When permanently installed in sea water, it can be a reason for the total failure of expensive sensor measurements.FuE presents UNITED at International Hybrid Conference
Eva Strothotte and Maria Jaeger (FuE) presented the UNITED project at the 11th YOUMARES conference for young marine researchers in Hamburg. Find out more: https://www.youmares.org/
German Pilot Team starts Offshore Preparations
Implementing the pre-operational phase at the German pilot does not only involve material procurement and biological preparation: health and safety come first, and the pilot team needs to be prepared for offshore work.
Updates from the Belgian pilot – good outlook for the flat oyster!
In spite of some delays due to the COVID-19 crisis, the first flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) aquaculture structures and restoration tables have been set out in the Belgian part of the North Sea during the past summer months.
Visit one of the UNITED pilots and experience ocean multi-use first hand - climb the offshore wind turbine!
Touch the benefits of ocean multi-use with your own hands: join the open house day at the Middelgrunden wind farm!
UNITED activities back on track: German pilot to investigate the site for the planned pre-tests.
So far, 2020 has not been the easiest of years, but it seems that life is going back to normal – and UNITED activities are getting back on track!
The first UNITED webinar
The first UNITED webinar took place on 3 June 2020. The webinar, which lasted 3 hours, introduced the project to the wider audience and it initiated a broader discussion about the topic of multi-use.
Learn about challenges, risks and barriers for the large-scale commercial roll-out of ocean multi-use
Join the interactive webinar on 3 June from 12:00 - 14:00h CEST!
1st UNITED report ready for publication
What are the barriers for the large-scale rollout of ocean multi-use? The first UNITED report, led by Wageningen University and Research, answers this question.
Two new videos published: Legal, Policy and Governance pillars
The videos produced by the Wageningen University and Research, address the health and safety aspects of ocean multi-use solutions.
News from the network: The Multi-Use is gaining momentum!
The Dutch multi-use procedure has been published, with contributions from UNITED partner Noordzeeboerderij. The procedure helps developers aiming to venture into ocean multi-use activity in wind farms.
UNITED pilots
Warming up the engines for the first concrete actions as part of the pre-operational phase.
Ocean multi-use project UNITED is now hiring!
The Research and Development Center Kiel University of Applied Sciences has a new position open.
New ocean multi-use project UNITED had its Kick-Off meeting!
The Horizon 2020 project UNITED had its Kick-Off meeting in Delft, the Netherlands on 27-29 January 2020.
