Monitoring Fish Presence Around Floating Wind Platforms
Ocean Winds Challenge #1
The Challenge
Ocean Winds (OW) wants to further increase the science-based evidence that its floating wind farms coexist positively with the surrounding marine ecosystem.
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As offshore wind farms are deployed further offshore and into more challenging marine environments, we need AI-powered, autonomous systems that can monitor and analyse fish presence near the assets, without human interference.
What we're looking for
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A monitoring system (e.g., cameras, sensors) that can record and analyse fish presence and behaviour near floaters, across different seasons.
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AI that can count individuals, identify species, and distinguish characteristics (age, parasites, species) — not just based on size.
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A system that covers a defined volume around the floater (using at least 2–3 cameras) and runs autonomously.
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Co-development with marine biologists, ensuring accuracy and ecological relevance of the data.
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Ability to operate independently for 6+ month in offshore environments (bottom-fixed or floating wind).
Must-haves​
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Provide interpretable outputs via a platform or dashboard (not just raw video).
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Cover data collection for at least 7–10 days per month, over a full year.
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Marinized and robust system design suitable for harsh offshore conditions.
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Minimum TRL 7 and suitable for pilot deployment at WindFloat Atlantic, OW floating offshore wind farm or similar projects.
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No need for on-site biologists - the AI should do the work.
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Camera systems that can move to follow fish once detected by AI.
Nice to have
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Seamless inspection and maintenance compared to existing fixed setups.
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Proven functionality across different marine contexts or infrastructure types (floating + bottom-fixed).
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The solution is just software without a physical deployment strategy (e.g., cameras installed on-site).
Not a fit
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Requires constant manual oversight or manual analysis.
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Not designed for harsh offshore or marine conditions.
Ideal Applicants
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Technology providers combining AI, hardware, and marine ecology expertise.
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Teams involving both software developers and marine biologists.
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Companies with experience in underwater vision, autonomous monitoring, or offshore renewables.
What Succes looks like
Ocean Winds is able to collect and analyse ecological evidence of the biodiversity around their floating wind platforms – delivered by autonomous systems that operate in offshore conditions with minimal intervention, and delivers useful, actionable data to support sustainable coexistence claims.
The Challenger
Born out of a strategic alliance between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, Ocean Winds develops, owns, builds and operates offshore wind farms all over the world. Ocean Winds increases its gross capacity day by day generating clean energy for millions of homes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Ocean Winds is taking offshore wind power generation to its full potential, leading the global energy transition into a greener future.
