Research Priorities

ACOWE will work with industry to scope bespoke research in building, maintenance, decommissioning and recycling of infrastructure.

ACOWE is addressing an urgent research and workforce development gap for the Australian Offshore Wind sector.

ACOWE will deliver research that facilitates a coordinated and sustainable approach to the many environmental, engineering and societal matters that need to be addressed at the declared sites, and for the outcomes of this research to be made publicly available to stakeholders.

ACOWE will work with industry to scope bespoke research in building, maintenance, decommissioning and recycling of infrastructure.

Key Challenges Policy & Regulatory
Social Acceptance		Biodiversity Technology & Engineering Infrastructure
Supply Chain		Workforce
Research PrioritiesCommunity & Cultural HeritageMarine EnvironmentOffshore EngineeringLogisticsWorkforce Pipeline

1.1 First Nations

  • Equity & participation
  • Mapping & valuing sea country
  • Cultural heritage & mitigation

2.1 Effect Studies

  • Flora & fauna survey (marine, benthic, freshwater, terrestrial, atmosphere)
  • Ecological impact assessment
  • Coastal dynamics & biophysical processes

3.1 Ocean Engineering

  • Metocean engineering
  • Wave-fluid-structure interaction (floating wind)

4.1 Supply Chain

  • Component supply
  • Decarbonisation of supply chain

5.1 Primary/Secondary

  • Outreach partnership

1.2 Community & Industries

  • Economic benefits
  • Social benefits
  • New industries

2.2 Monitoring & Management

  • Biodiversity monitoring, coastal dynamics & biophysical processes

3.2 Geotechnical Engineering

  • Seabed (calcareous) characterisation
  • Soil-structure interaction
  • Floating wind concept (anchors, mooring & cables)
  • Geohazards

4.2 Infrastructure Initiation

  • Ports & harbour engineering
  • Port initiation & risk
  • Electrical power system integration
  • Finance

5.2  Higher Education

  • TAFE as an endpoint
  • TAFE to university pathway
  • Internship for Commonwealth placements
  • Specialised post-graduate subjects

1.3 Legal & Regulatory

  • Policy/Guidelines/ Frameworks
  • Trade agreements
  • Marine cadastre (information & regulation)
  • Native Title/Traditional Ownership
  • Incentives
  • EPBC Act/Cultural Heritage Acts

2.3 Mitigation & Opportunities

  • Ecological engineering of marine infrastructures
  • Artificial habitats/refugia
  • Nature positive designs
 

4.3 Operation & Maintenance

  • Structural monitoring & maintenance
  • Demand modelling
  • Biofouling

5.3 Continuing  Education

  • Micro-credential and technical courses
 

2.4 Decommissioning

 

4.4 Decommissioning

5.4 Reskilling

  • Retraining & transition courses (in partnership with professional bodies)
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