Demonstration of intensive
shellfish farming in OPEN waters
with resilient and affordable MODulEs

The growth of the shellfish sector in EU is nearly stagnant due to the increasing global competition and the saturation of the areas protected from swell where intensive farming is viable. OpenMode is launched by two companies to go beyond the resilient platforms tested in previous works, proposing floating connectable modules for intensive farming in open waters. Its main objective is to prove their capacity to bridge the sector gaps farming on four full-scale demonstrators in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and North Sea Basins. The fifth demonstrator aims to prove the capacity to transfer this affordable technology to other blue growth sectors.

The platform redesign towards portable and versatile modules will consider their interaction with the swell and the response of different connection systems. The integration of remote sensors to control water, weather and structural parameters will assure the surveillance, reduce operating costs and explain through big data analysis which factors affect the harvest growth rates.

Eight 140 m2 modules will be produced and floated in Spain, Denmark, Croatia and Montenegro, where local farmers will share them harvesting molluscs or macroalgae. They will learn through trainings how to use it to avoid predation, achieve more phytoplankton or scale-up compensation measures, sharing their user experience with the designers and other farmers. This will allow completing the market study and Life Cycle Assessment. Colloquiums and events will raise awareness of this sustainable farming and promote synergies with other EU programs. The project success will activate intense farming in high-potential unexploited areas, and become an efficient tool to combat eutrophication in North and Baltic sea. Sharing the modules during the project can grow into a cooperative business model for the farmers with fewer resources. Finally, the versatility and cost reduction reached will let it to be adapted for other blue growth sectors.

PROJECT PROGRESS

Last update: 22th September, 2021

MILESTONES

MS9

First order confirmed

KPIs

The average completion of indicators at the Month 23 is 128%.

Values higher than those initially proposed are shown in green.

Technical and technological specific objectives

Indicator 1:Test modular floating platforms (TRL8) with a 33% higher load carrying capacity than the current state of the technology and maintaining the production costs per m2.
Baseline Value=75 kg/m2. KPI1=100 kg/m2 (+33%) 55%
+60% (total improvement of 182%) 100%
Indicator 2: Integrate in a module a continuous remote measurement system to control 14 parameters (4 of the water, 3 of the swell, 4 of strains in beams and ropes and 3 of weather conditions).
Baseline Value= Now RDC is controlling in its UHC floating platforms 4 parameters in remote. KPI2: 14 parameters (+250%) 67.6%
41 parameters measured remotely (improvement of 370%) 100%
Indicator 3: Float in open waters 8 modular platforms (140 m2 each) to demonstrate the capacities of the new designs during at least 12 months and in five different locations in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and North Sea Basins. Baseline value: 0. KPI3=8 modules floated 88.5%
9 modules floated (improvement of 113%) 100%

9 modules floated (the conectable module is formed by two 20 x 13.5 m, equivalent to four 12 x 12 m modules).

Indicator 4: Successfully assemble and use 4 aligned modules on the water, forming a 48-m length side.
Baseline Value=27 m. KPI4=48 m. (+77,8%) 100%
40 meters of length (+62%) 79.7%

The maximum length of a side in floating platforms reached by the project is 40 meters.

Indicator 5: Reach a design of a 12 x 12 m modular floating platform that reduces a 27% the sum of the transportation and assembling costs, which sum approximately 44 €/m2 for the current platforms (20 x 27 m) for the average transportation distance (950 km). Baseline value: 44 €/m2. KPI5=32 €/m2 (-27%) 100%
34,37 €/m2 90%
Indicator 6: 1 patent/utility model for the design of the connections.
Baseline value=0. KPI6=1 patent 50%
2 patents 200%
Indicator 7: 140 m2 of demonstrator of a floating photovoltaic structure in open waters.
Baseline value=0. KPI7=140 m2. 100%
8 m2 6%

Social, communication and cooperation specific objectives:

Indicator 8: Besides the jobs created in the beneficiary companies to implement the project, it is expected that the demonstrators create 10 fulltime equivalent jobs (2 per aquaculture demonstrator). As their lifespan is longer than the project period, they will continue working their business on them after the project.
Baseline value=0. KPI8=10 FTE 100%
7 Full-Time equivalent jobs created 70%
Indicator 9: Number of actions/SMEs involved in the project.
Baseline Value=2 actions/SMEs. KPI9=15 actions/SMEs 41.9%
31 different stakeholders 100%

Since the starting of the project, OpenMode has cooperated or established relations with 31 different stakeholders of which 16 can be considered relevant.

Indicator 10: Number of students made aware in the three speeches/colloquiums.
KPI10=300 students 100%
247 students 82%
Indicator 11: Number of visits to the project website.
KPI11=5000 visits 100%
1871 visits 37.5%

Since its official launch in December 2019, the project’s website has received 1871 visits.

Indicator 12: Number of farmers or potential farmers completing the training (at the demonstrator and through the webinar course).
KPI12=425 farmers 100%
15 (potential) farmers 4%
Indicator 13: Number of farmers using the demonstrators at the end of the project (small business or for recreation).
KPI13=23 farmers 92%
25 farmers (109%) 100%
Indicator 14: Sum of the number individuals attending to the three events (Denmark, Croatia, Spain).
KPI14=150 individuals 46.16%
325 individuals (217%) 100%
Indicator 15: Total number of completed surveys (physical or through the website).
KPI15=500 surveys completed 100%
25 surveys completed 5%

Economic and exploitation specific objectives:

Indicator 16: Private finance mobilised in euros.
KPI16=315.000 € 100%
168.610,92 € (54%) 54%
Indicator 17: Number of potential customers in the target markets covered with the project.
KPI17=690 customers 69%
1158 potential customers (168%) 100%
Indicator 18: Purchase commitments at the end of the project.
KPI18=1400 m2 97%
1446,6 m2 (103%) 100%
Indicator 19: Expected revenues from selling modules.
KPI19=105.000 € 30%
360.702 € (344%) 100%

NEWS

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OpenMode Project
OpenMode_EU avatarOpenMode Project@OpenMode_EU·
26 Aug 1430811513980391424

📢 Installation of the #OpenModeTester2 which is #submersible to avoid winter ice.

2 prototypes were developed this summer for testing in Denmark 🇩🇰 manufactured by our project partner @Preffor_Formex

More info: https://bit.ly/3knJHwk
#BlueEconomy
#EUfunded #EMFF @cinea_eu

Twitter feed video.
Image for the Tweet beginning: 📢 Installation of the #OpenModeTester2
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OpenMode_EU avatarOpenMode Project@OpenMode_EU·
24 Aug 1430204663501139970

The deployement of the #OpenModeTester6 has been a piece of cake!!
First #FormexModule in the #BalticSea
More information in: https://bit.ly/3jcJblh

Twitter feed video.
Image for the Tweet beginning: The deployement of the #OpenModeTester6
Reply on Twitter 1430204663501139970Retweet on Twitter 14302046635011399703Like on Twitter 14302046635011399701Twitter 1430204663501139970
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