“Validating key offshore wind technology”
Offshore wind power with more sustainable materials, advanced protection technologies and smart monitoring systems
The HAIZEEKO project’s mission is to develop technological solutions to make offshore systems more efficient, sustainable and competitive, with a primary focus on two essential elements of offshore wind turbines: the blades, which should be designed to offer lightness, strength and recyclability; and the towers and structures, which are subject to extreme conditions (corrosion, impact and fatigue).
The project addresses the major challenges of the offshore sector:
- Exposure to extreme environmental conditions: moisture, salinity, ice, biofouling and dynamic loads.
- Limitations of the current coatings to prevent corrosion and abrasion.
- High maintenance costs caused by complex offshore interventions.
- Problems with recyclability, sustainability and durability of materials.
Three technological axes of innovation
1) Sustainability
- Development of recyclable materials for blades.
- New ceramic anti-corrosion coatings, with better protection against extreme marine environments.
- Reduction of the environmental impact of offshore wind infrastructure.
2) Energy efficiency
- Improved eco-design and aerodynamics of the blades.
- Optimisation of operational performance of wind turbines through advanced design and structural analysis.
3) Durability and maintenance
- Advanced structural monitoring technology, such as ultrasound and embedded systems.
- Development of predictive maintenance models.
- Advanced coatings with anti-corrosion and anti-freeze properties, and increased wear and fatigue resistance.
Development and validation of key offshore wind technologies
TECNALIA, as an actor of the Basque Science, Technology and Innovation Network (RVCTI), plays a central role in the development and validation of key technologies for offshore wind power. It works closely with KERA-COAT in the field of advanced ceramic coatings, covering:
- the development and characterisation of new high performance ceramic coatings;
- the definition and optimisation of innovative technologies for implementation and consolidation;
- research on hybrid heat treatment processes that enable improved adhesion, densification and durability of the coating;
- the validation of anti-corrosion coatings specifically for offshore environments.
Thanks to this collaboration, TECNALIA is promoting next-generation ceramic coatings with improved capabilities against corrosion, erosion and wear, which is one of the sector’s most important challenges.
HAIZEEKO is a collaborative research project coordinated by NAVACEL, with the participation of the following companies: ARGOLABE INGENIERÍA, EKIMEN, ERAMAN, GLOBAL FACTOR, INNOMAT, INNOVATION TREE, KERA-COAT and MANDIOLA, and the technological support of CIDETEC Surface Engineering and TECNALIA, as well as the collaboration of the Basque Energy Cluster.
The project is funded by the HAZITEK 2025 programme of the Basque Government’s Department of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability, and is backed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF 2021-2027).