Consisting of an onshore operations base and a fixed offshore platform, the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) is designed to accelerate innovation, economic development and job creation in the marine and maritime sectors. It is at the disposal of the entire national and international scientific and technological community, both in the public and private sectors. Since 2012, some 478 partners and around 1 500 researchers from 40 countries have been involved in PLOCAN’s activities and it has already participated in more than 63 international initiatives in Atlantic Ocean research.
New marine and maritime research facility set up off Gran Canaria
- 11 January 2019
PLOCAN functions as an infrastructure for the development of scientific and technological capabilities at the limits of current knowledge and the acceleration of innovation, economic development and job creation in the marine-maritime sector. It is at the disposal of the entire national and international scientific and technological community, both in the public and private sectors, and is also fully integrated into current and planned European-level infrastructural coordination and collaboration initiatives in this field.
PLOCAN’s infrastructure includes laboratories, office space, workshops, a hyperbaric chamber for safety during underwater activities, specialist maritime equipment, and communication, testing and teaching facilities.
PLOCAN’s offshore platform, which was installed in early 2017 and is being brought into full operation, is located just off Gran Canaria and close to the edge of the continental shelf in waters about 35 m in depth. It has floor space of around 1 000 m² and is adjacent to a marine area of some 23 km², which is used for testing.
The operations base is in Taliarte, Gran Canaria, while the platform also has a base for underwater vehicles, instruments and machines, as well as a fleet of unmanned vehicles, including gliders, and remotely operated and autonomous vehicles.
Monitoring ocean ecosystems
PLOCAN comprises five main elements, the first of which is an observatory that allows for continuous and real-time monitoring of ocean ecosystems. It consists of several permanent and mobile systems that interact to observe environmental impacts, and test, calibrate and validate instruments, providing data for analysis and environmental studies.
A test bed for marine technologies, especially those related to renewable energy production from wind and waves, occupies space both on the platform and in the marine environment. It has underwater infrastructure to supply energy to the power grid, a control centre for data analysis and support services for underwater testing, including electrical and communications systems to allow for simultaneous testing of multiple renewable energy devices.
As well as providing a base for PLOCAN’s own continuously updated fleet of equipment, the underwater vehicle base supports deployment of external vehicles. A control room tracks them in real time, while laboratories and warehouses support missions to test and develop manned and unmanned machinery with maintenance, repair and modification services.
Training is available for companies and research institutions, with courses on piloting of remote-controlled submersibles – which are only offered by a few facilities worldwide – attracting particular interest.
An innovation platform
Finally, PLOCAN acts as an innovation platform, promoting development of new services, products, technologies and companies, generating economic growth and creating jobs. It offers project management support and provides assistance in non-technological areas such as fundraising, obtaining permits, logistics and health and safety.
A key area of focus for PLOCAN is enabling projects and SMEs to bridge the gap between research and commercialisation, including through final development of prototypes and pre-series equipment. By making available affordable testing facilities and research and administrative advice, PLOCAN accelerates and facilitates the introduction of new technologies to the market.
In the first 2 to 3 years of its operation, more than 100 projects are expected to use PLOCAN’s facilities.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias” is EUR 45 000 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 7 093 976 through the “Canary Islands” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period.