Floating Modular Energy Islands (FMEIs) are modularized, interconnected floating structures that function together to produce, store, possibly convert and transport renewable energy. Recent technological advancements in the offshore energy sector indicate that the concept of floating offshore energy islands has the potential to become more cost-effective and more widespread than previously anticipated. This review is specifically meant as a basis for the development of new approaches to the sustainable exploitation of multi-energy sources in the offshore environment leveraging the know-how of existing technologies and, at the same time, exploring new solutions for the specific challenges of FMEIs. The paper critically analyzes the current state of data-driven approaches and structural health monitoring techniques in the offshore energy sector. It also covers topics such as met-ocean data, load estimation, platform dynamics, coupling actions, nonlinear dynamics of mooring lines, modelling considerations, and control of electrical subsystems. It is believed that this systematic and multidisciplinary review will facilitate synergies and further enhance research and development of offshore renewable energies.@en

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a digitalisation tool that is widely adopted in construction industry. It is a three-dimensional digital replica of asset(s) such as buildings, which contain architectural information and building details (e.g. dimensions, materials, parts, and components). It has evolved from 2D CAD models (or blueprints) in the past to 3D CAD models embedded with information layers (e.g., construction time sequence or 4D-BIM), resulting in automation in construction. BIM has now been essential in various countries; for example, new UK BIM standards require asset owners to keep and maintain building information. BIM adopts an interoperable concept that can benefit the whole life-cycle assessment (LCA) and circularity of the built environments. Its applications extend to six dimensions (6D) where time sequence, cost and carbon footprint can now be reported in real time. These attributes are essential to stakeholders and critically help reduce any unexpected consumption and waste over the life cycle of a project. This study builds on the development of 6D BIM of an existing building to enrich circular value chains and stakeholder engagement. This paper highlights the development of 6D BIM, and, subsequently, the stakeholder interviews to address challenges, barriers, benefits, and effectiveness of 6D-BIM applications for stakeholder engagements across circular value chains. Snowballing sampling method has been used to identify stakeholder interviews to obtain new insights into the digital valorisation for stakeholder engagement. The outcome of this study will exhibit new insights and practical paradigms for BIM applications in built environments.

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This paper represents an expert view from Europe of future emerging technologies within the wind energy sector considering their potential, challenges, applications and technology readiness and how they might evolve in the coming years. These technologies were identified as originating primarily from the academic sector, some start-up companies and a few larger industrial entities. The following areas were considered: airborne wind energy, offshore floating concepts, smart rotors, wind-induced energy harvesting devices, blade tip-mounted rotors, unconventional power transmission systems, multi-rotor turbines, alternative support structures, modular high voltage direct current generators, innovative blade manufacturing techniques, diffuser-augmented turbines and small turbine technologies. The future role of advanced multiscale modelling and data availability is also considered. This expert review has highlighted that more research will be required to realise many of these emerging technologies. However, there is a need to identify synergies between fundamental and industrial research by correctly targeting public and private funding in these emerging technology areas as industrial development may outpace more fundamental research faster than anticipated.

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