In the vast ocean, where innovation meets sustainability, lies a realm of untapped potential in offshore renewables related ocean multi-use.
Deep-dive into this free online course to discover real-world examples of multi-use sites in action across different oceans, where activities such as fishing, offshore wind, tourism or culturing species coexist in harmony.
This course is developed by SUBMARINER Network and supported by University of A Coruña, as part of the EU-funded FLORES project. It draws from the expertise of projects like MUSES, UNITED, ULTFRAMS, MULTI-FRAME, etc. this MOOC offers an introductory study to the topic of ocean multi-use, with a specific focus on multi-use combinations that include offshore wind farms.
What is ocean multi use?
Traditionally, the management of ocean uses has been approached sector-by-sector, which means, for instance, that an area assigned for fishing was not normally used for any other activity, even when they could co-exist.
Nevertheless, further growth of ocean-based industries increases pressures on oceans, coastal space, and resources, which are already under considerable stress.
To minimise conflicts and maximise the synergies between maritime uses, there is a need to move from a traditional sector-by-sector management of marine activities to a more holistic and integrated approach.
That means, for instance, combining areas such as:
- Offshore wind and tourism: include boat tours to the wind farm, diving expeditions around the piles, or other recreational activities depending on site conditions and business models.
- Offshore wind and culturing species: from high to low trophic or serve as an artificial reef aiding nature restoration. This can potentially maximize benefit derived from a given space. For example, growing sugar kelp within offshore wind farms not only provides additional jobs and sustainable food sources in the local communities, but also maximises the CO2 uptake per square kilometre due to kelps ability to store carbon.
- Artisanal fisheries and tourism: the so called “pescatourism” allows visitors to learn about the fishing tradition, while at the same time providing additional or alternative sources of income for fishers who aim the transition to a smaller scale or lower impact techniques.
While multi-use can provide important benefits, multiple barriers, such as uncertainty about impacts and stakeholder perceptions, still hinder its real-life implementation.
Joint work by policy, research, and industry is still needed to address these barriers and ensure a more holistic integrated approach to use and management of marine resources.
Objectives
Upon completing, you will:
- Gain thorough understanding of the principles, benefits, and real-life applications of ocean multi-use, with a particular focus on integrating offshore wind farms with other marine activities in a synergetic way.
- Develop the skills necessary for interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainable project management, and stakeholder engagement.
- Be better equipped to address practical challenges in the field, enabling you to make valuable contributions to the advancement and sustainability of ocean multi-use projects and space-efficient offshore energy solutions.
« This is the first and only online onboarding course of its kind. It aims to address the lack of easy-to-read sources on the topic of offshore renewables related ocean multi-use »
Target students
Our ORE training package is targeted to a wide range of experts and professionals, including but not limited to:
- High School Students Of Senior Years: Specifically, those in their final two years (aged 16-18) with a specialisation in technology.
- University Students: Primarily targeting first-year students enrolled in programs with a focus on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and Offshore Renewable Energy Engineering.
- Junior Engineers: Individuals who are beginning their careers in engineering, especially those interested in or transitioning to roles related to offshore renewables.
- Workers Upskilling/Reskilling: Whether transitioning from related industries or aiming to broaden their expertise, the course provides a solid foundation.
Course Program
- Course Introduction
- Multi Use Combination Example: Offshore Wind + Oyster Aquaculture +Nature Restoration in Belgium
- Multi-Use Combination Example: Offshore Wind + Floating Solar + Seaweed Farming in the Netherlands
- Multi-Use Combination Example: Offshore wind + Tourism at offshore park in Denmark
- Space Efficient Offshore Energy Solutions – Energy Islands, Multi-Use, And Others
- Challenges and Constraints regarding Ocean Multi-Use
- BONUS Chapter: How does it feel to be an engineer working on multi-use projects? Women’s roles in this industry, and more! | Interviews with industry professionals
Certificate
The duration of this course is 15 hours. Upon finishing 100% of lectures, you’ll be granted a certificate of completion.