Underwater Infrastructure Safety
Why underwater structure inspections are so important
The offshore energy transition is gaining momentum, and at the same time, the need for robust and well-maintained underwater infrastructure is growing. Inspection, analysis, and repair of underwater structures are essential. However, the inspection and maintenance of offshore structures is anything but routine work. Conditions below the water's surface are challenging for both humans and technology, whether it be currents, pressure, or extreme temperature fluctuations.
Nevertheless, the expansion of offshore energy facilities is exploding: In Europe, installed wind power capacity at the end of 2024 was around 291 GW, of which about 37 GW was offshore wind energy. An annual increase of around 22 GW of wind energy is expected in the EU-27 between 2025 and 2030.
The more offshore structures-wind turbines, platforms, cables, pipelines – are installed, the more important the underlying, often invisible infrastructure on the seabed becomes. Underwater, you will find not only the foundation and anchoring systems of offshore wind turbines, but also extensive networks of power and data cables, pipelines, support and connection structures for energy, telecommunications, and transportation. Submarine cables and pipelines are undoubtedly part of the critical infrastructure – they transport electricity, data, and raw materials and are therefore highly strategic. With the expansion of offshore-based renewable energy plants, the demands on cable and line infrastructure are also increasing – their planning, laying, protection, and maintenance take place on the seabed.
Risks without inspection
The growing underwater structures pose a number of risks, as they are exposed to extreme conditions: electricity, currents, corrosion, fouling, limited visibility – all of which affect their service life and operational safety. If damage goes undetected, repair costs or even power or communication line failures can result – an unacceptable situation, especially in the case of critical infrastructure.
This is precisely where the FORE-PAIR project comes in: The focus is on autonomous inspection, maintenance, and cleaning technologies for offshore platforms that use robotics and digital twins to enable early condition assessment and inspect hard-to-reach underwater structures in a low-risk and cost-efficient manner – thus contributing significantly to extending their service life.