Research & Development
Projet
ABIOP+
Consideration of biofouling using quantification protocols useful for engineering
- Duration: 40 months (2019-2022)
- Budget: €2,000K
Context
Biocolonisation of submerged elements, also known as biofouling, could have a significant impact on mooring lines and dynamic cables. It also leads to a modification of the marine environment in which the structures are deployed, notably via the reef effect.
However, biocolonisation is not fully understood, especially if we consider the very dynamic, shallow (< 200 m) and offshore sites, which are characteristic of the areas where offshore renewable energy recovery systems are installed. Biofouling is therefore a crucial parameter to be quantified and qualified in order to be properly taken into account.
Objective
- To characterise biofouling qualitatively and quantitatively by site and component through innovative, low-cost, globally applicable protocols based on robust data analysis
Main achievements
Detailed characterisation over 30 months of biofouling at 5 offshore renewable energy sites in the Atlantic and Mediterranean
Development of a new biofouling characterisation protocol including an adaptation to synthetic mooring lines, and allowing standards to evolve
Development of an image analysis method for species group recognition based on deep learning, classification and segmentation
Development of a protocol, experimental set-up and numerical model to quantify the thermal resistance of biofouling
Selection of an in situ proven biofouling management solution
Identification of material biodegradation modes
Resources generated
- Databases: underwater image bank, DNA
metabarcoding, morphology-based taxonomy,
parameters influencing biocolonisation,
biofouling characteristics, multi-species
heat exchange coefficient - Numerical model for predicting the heat exchange coefficient of biofouling
- Standards and recommendations: reliable
range of biofouling densities for use in sensitivity studies, determination of component
sensitivity, numerical modelling of thermal
resistance, automatic quantification of percentage recovery from images - Reports: comparison of biofouling management solutions, identification of microbial
communities involved in material degradation - 1 international publication: Portas et al. (2022)
Conclusion
ABIOP+ has highlighted the high spatial and temporal variability of the
communities of organisms making up the biofouling on offshore sites. It
also led to the development of high-performance protocols and numerical tools to better take into account the impact of the biocolonisation
of submerged components in the design studies of systems and farms.
Finally, the project has enabled the identification of an innovative antifouling solution validated for use in static and dynamic conditions.
Partners
This project was led by France Energies Marines.
Funding
This project received French State funding managed by the National Research Agency under the France 2030 investment plan (ANR-10-IEED-0006-34). It also received financial support from Pôle Mer Méditerranée, and Brittany, La Réunion, Normandy, Pays de La Loire and SUD Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur regions. This project also benefited the technical support from the Direction Interrégionale de la Mer Nord Atlantique Manche Ouest.
Accreditation
This project is certified by the maritime clusters Pôle Mer Méditerranée.
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