The Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) has been confirmed as the new coordinator of the leading European research project MUSICA (Multiple-use-of Space for Island Clean Autonomy) funded under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 programme.
The overall aim is to accelerate the business plans to commercialisation of its Multi-Use Platform (MUP) and Multi-use of Space (MUS) combination for the small island market, and de-risk for future operators and investors, to move to mass market commercialisation.
The MUSICA solution will be a decarbonising one-stop shop for small islands, including their marine initiatives (Blue Growth) and ecosystems. This will be achieved with the MUSICA smart and replicable MUP, providing the full suite of solutions for a small island.
In assuming the new coordinator role PLOCAN will be required to guide the projects through their respective periodic review processes to ensure they meet the requirements set out in the European Commission’s Grant Agreements.
MUSICA concept focuses on small islands (up to 2.000 population), with difficulties in installing large-scale renewable energy and onshore desalination plants due to multiple barriers such as lack of space, public acceptance, visual impact, or the pressure of tourism. In addition, these islands have weak energy systems and are highly dependent on fossil fuels with no RES penetration. MUSICA will provide a cost-effective solution while gaining independence and autonomy for these small islands.
MUSICA concept
This five-year project will receive approximately 9 million euros spread among fifteen partners from seven countries of the European Union.
The University of the Aegean and its spin-off EcoWindWater are responsible for the development and optimization of the design of the floating platform, which has previously been validated for two years. The project also aims to cover the island’s water demand with the installation of desalination units on the platform, providing 1000m3 of fresh water per day. For its part, the Irish engineering company Neodyne is responsible for the design and installation of an energy management system (EMS) to integrate all RES installed on the platform (wind, solar and wave or wave energy).
Floating platform 3D models designed by the University of Aegean within MUSICA project
University of Malta will provide an innovative hybrid energy storage facility on the multi-use platform for the island energy management combining electro-chemical batteries with hydro-pneumatic air storage (HPES) to store both electricity and pressurised water for desalination.
Energy Conversion Unit (ECU) for the Hydro-pneumatic Energy Storage (HPES) under construction by the University of Malta in MUSICA project
Wave energy developer Sinnpower will optimize and install its wave energy devices on the multi-use platform. The concept of multiple use of the space will be completed with the installation of an offshore aquaculture cage. It will be the first offshore aquaculture project fully serviced by a floating multi-use platform. In this section, the partner Aquabiotech brings his experience and knowledge in the sector.
Wave energy devices installed on a floating platform. Concept developed by Sinnpower within MUSICA project
In addition to the new coordinator role at the MUSICA project, PLOCAN are leading the testing, monitoring, operation and maintenance of the multi-use platform on Oinnouses. PLOCAN will also contribute to the replicability plans and feasibility studies of the solution on Gran Canaria Island (Spain).
Dr Ayoze Castro, Head of the Innovation Unit at PLOCAN said, “We are immensely proud and excited to be taking on the role of coordinator for this important and ambitious project. MUSICA will represent one of the very first multipurpose offshore platforms in Europe. We fully believe that MUSICA is the logical follow-on from previous MUP projects and is the best route to commercialisation of the MUP/ MUS concept, balancing operator and investor risk, and acceleration of progress”.
Dr Gordon Dalton, from Ireland, has taken up the post of coordinator for the project. Dr Dalton brings with him the expertise of past coordination of two previous Horizon 2020 projects. Speaking on his new post, Dr Dalton, says, “I am very excited to take up the coordinator role for the MUSICA project, and I’m keen to maximize the exploitation opportunities for PLOCAN and the Canary Islands.” Dr Gordon Dalton, from Ireland, has taken up the post of coordinator for the project. Dr Dalton brings with him the expertise of past coordination of two previous Horizon 2020 projects. Speaking on his new post, Dr Dalton, says, “I am very excited to take up the coordinator role for the MUSICA project, and I’m keen to maximize the exploitation opportunities for PLOCAN and the Canary Islands”.
PROJECT ACRONYM: MUSICA
PROJECT TITLE: Multiple-use-of Space for Island Clean Autonomy
FUNDS: H2020-BG-2018-2020/H2020-BG-2019-1, grant agreement No. 862252
UE Contribution: 8.999.705 €
Web: https://musica-project.eu/
Twitter: @musica_project
LinkedIn: MUSICA Project
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 862252.
