Kick-off for COIN: Research network meets at TU Braunschweig

The European research project COIN (Control-Oriented INnovations for future wave energy farms) officially started with a two-day kick-off meeting at Technische Universität Braunschweig. Scientists from Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, Denmark, Italy, the United Kingdom and Ireland came together to strengthen cooperation within the international consortium. Led by the Leichtweiβ Institute for Hydraulic Engineering and Water Resources, the project is funded by Horizon Europe and aims to enhance the reliability, service life and sustainability of future wave energy systems.

Kick-off for the COIN research project at TU Braunschweig. Picture credits: Kristina Rottig/TU Braunschweig

Together, the project partners developed the next steps for the three central areas of innovation:

• New connection systems for underwater structures that are designed to actively limit peak loads.
• An AI-supported wave prediction system that forecasts future wave conditions in real time.
• A digital twin-based framework for condition monitoring and adaptive control.

The programme included visits to key research facilities. The 20 participants gained insights into the test facilities at TU Braunschweig, including the Saltwater Wave-Current Flume and the Large Wave Current Flume
GWK+ at the Coastal Research Centre.

The kick-off event marked the official start of the four-year project. The project’s goal is to significantly enhance the technological maturity of wave energy concepts, thereby contributing to the advancement of sustainable marine energy in Europe.