Current research projects at FINO3

The UNITED project uses pilot demonstrators to investigate the practicability of jointly carrying out various activities at the same maritime location, on so-called multi-use platforms, for the European maritime industry and for local ecosystems.

Aim of the project is the development, construction and test operation of a wave power plant on a model scale. The test facility serves as a new energy research infrastructure with a “real laboratory” character.

Sensorial monitoring systems typically have significant deficiencies in corrosion resistance and inhibition of growth, severely limiting the life of these devices. The need for scratch-resistant, growth-inhibiting and corrosion-resistant coatings is therefore very large.

The sea loads of large monopile structures are determined by means of a simulation method for free-surface frictional flows in order to be able to construct larger, more efficient offshore wind turbines with high stability in the future.

FINO3 belongs to a network of automatic receiving stations in the area of the German Bight, which receive signals from songbirds, which are equipped with tiny radio telemetry transmitters.

Anemometers and wind vanes are used to measure wind speed and direction at a total of eight altitudes between 30 and 100 meters.

Oceanographic data are collected on and in the immediate field of the platform by means of a sea buoy, an acoustic flow meter and CTD and oxygen probes.

Using the GNSS1 system, a height reference is realized on FINO3 and the recorded water level data are exactly georeferenced or provided with an exact height reference.

Automatic water analyzes provide detailed information on the distribution of nutrient loads in the North Sea and show how these affect algae growth in different areas.

Environmental radioactivity is continuously monitored on FINO3 using a sensor. In case of an accident, the radioactive contamination of the environment is detected quickly and the expected radiation exposure can be estimated.