RESEARCH GROUPS

COASTAL & OCEAN BASIN (COB)

The Coastal & Ocean Basin (COB), located in Ostend, Belgium, is designed to study the effect of waves and currents on coastal and offshore structures, the generation of freak waves and the hydrodynamic and structural behaviour of devices for marine renewable energy. With basin dimensions of 30 m x 30 m, a variable water depth up to 1.4 m and wave-current interaction in any relative direction, the infrastructure offers excellent test conditions for coastal to near offshore applications related to coastal defence plans, offshore/floating structures and renewable energy technologies. A central pit of up to 4.5 m deep allows for testing of mooring applications. The COB welcomes users from academia, industry and governmental institutions.

WECANet COST Action CA17105                                                                                                                                                                                         

The Coastal Engineering Research Group of Ghent University coordinated the COST Action CA17105 “WECANet: An open pan-European Network for Marine Renewable Energy with a focus on wave energy”, which supports training, networking and collaboration in Europe. This project was funded by the European COST Association and researchers from 31 countries are participating in this network.  

The final WECANet Conference took place at Ghent University, Belgium from 6-7 March 2023. The local organizer was Prof. Peter Troch. 
Details on the WECANet website.

Blue Accelerator Project

 Ghent University expands further its research and valorization activities related to the Ostend Campus within the framework of the BLUE ACCELERATOR project, whereby testing facilities are realized on/near/off–shore with the aim of creating a Living Lab, based in Ostend, where testing is possible under real sea conditions.

In the BLUE ACCELERATOR project a unique maritime test platform (500 m outside the port) has been built to perform tests in the context of the development of Blue Energy projects (offshore wind energy, wave and tidal energy) and the broader Blue Economy.

ENCORE Project

Through its Interreg 2 Seas Programme, Europe has awarded €5.9 million to the ENCORE project: Energising Coastal Regions with Offshore Renewable Energy (ENCORE). The Coastal Engineering Research Group of Ghent University is partner in this  project.

Contact information

Ghent University, Department of Civil Engineering
Coastal Engineering, Bridges and Roads

Tech Lane Ghent Science Park – Campus A
Technologiepark 60
B-9052 Gent
Belgium
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phone: +32 (0)9 264 54 89
fax: +32 (0)9 264 58 37
http://awww.ugent.be