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PRIMRE/Databases/Projects Database/Test Sites/Blue Accelerator
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Blue Accelerator
The Blue Accelerator is a marine test platform currently operating on a 15 year exploitation permit. Previously known in 2019 as the Ostend Research Tower, the site is now utilized for a variety of purposes from drone testing, floating solar or wind platforms, tidal and wave energy converters (WEC's). The site was developed by both Nemos and Pom West-Flanders who quote the location as being most ideal for devices with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 4 and 7.
In 2020 the tower underwent upgrades that involved relocating its top container to the mainland for system upgrades. While there, new solar panels, additional sensors, telecommunications equipment, and improved security infrastructure were installed before the container was replaced and the test site resumed operation under the new name of the Blue Accelerator. The site underwent upgrades again in 2024 as part of the Test@Sea project developed in collaboration with VLIZ-Flanders Marine Institute, Sirris, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Ghent University, and De Blauwe Cluster (Blue Cluster). The Project aimed to expand the site with floating and submersible structures while also adding additional sensors, frames and test plates inside and outside of the tower. The site was made operational again in January of 2025.
The location boasts several benefits to streamline test deployments such as a pre-permitted testing process, grid connectivity, and deployment within 500 m of the Port of Ostend which hosts an airport for international travel. The test site itself is circular with a 440 m diameter centered on the testing tower. Additionally the test platform offers a number of additional utilities such as live metocean conditions displayed on their website, access to various preinstalled sensors, scaffolding to facilitate testing or placement of materials/sensors, as well as a radio and WIFI connection to land for communication with the platform.
The average water depth for the site is approximately 10 m with a tidal range of 4 m. The annual average significant wave height and the energy period are 0.65 m and 4.9 s respectively, with a wave power of 4.33 kW per meter of wavefront. A long-term statistical study has predicted 100 year extremes of up to 8.5 m of wave height. Local ocean currents range between 0.15-0.9 m/s with 5 year highs of 1.87 m/s.
Platform Manufacturer
Additional Information
Device Status
Is the test site actively testing or in planning (active)? Or is it permanently closed for business (inactive)?
Active
Energy Resource
- Wave
- Tidal
Duration
January 2019 -
Ongoing
Grid Connectivity
Not Grid Connected
Number of Berths
1
Waterbody
North Sea, Ostend, West Flanders
Site Characteristics
Geographic characterization for the test site location:
- Open Ocean: Main body of ocean, not enclosed or partially enclosed by land
- Coastal: Open water near the coast, spanning between land and shelf boundary
- Enclosed Bay: water that is partially surrounded by land, with a mouth open to larger water
- Constricted Channel: A channel where water flows quickly due to narrowing by the land
- River: Water flowing from land towards a larger body of water
Coastal
Country
Belgium
Last Modified
29 April 2025
This Test Site has the following MRE Devices
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Citation Formats
“Blue Accelerator.” Marine Energy Projects Database: Test Sites, PRIMRE, United States Department of Energy, https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Test_Sites/Blue_Accelerator. Accessed <day> <monthRoman> <year>.
Marine Energy Projects Database: Test Sites. <year>. "Blue Accelerator." Accessed <monthRoman> <day>, <year>. https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Test_Sites/Blue_Accelerator.
