The Structured Innovation (SI) design tool forms part of the DTOceanPlus suite of second-generation open source design tools for ocean energy. The SI tool comprises innovation methodologies which can enhance concept creation and selection in ocean energy systems (including sub-systems, energy capture devices and arrays), enabling a structured approach to address complex ocean energy engineering challenges where design options are numerous, and thus it can facilitate efficient evolution from concept to commercialisation.

With the DTOcean software at an important stage in its development, the first of two training workshops foreseen by the project was organised on 5 May 2015, in Glasgow, alongside the All-Energy conference. The workshop was organised with the following goals in mind: validate decisions taken to date with industry stakeholders; generate feedback which will further align the tool with industry needs; and promote the DTOcean tool and enhance its eventual uptake as a result

The objectives of the ABIOP+ project were to : • Provide characterisation protocols for biofouling on cable and mooring lines materials which are very vulnerable to this biological process, in order to collect quantitative in-situ data. • Inventory existing fouling management methods and test the solutions best suited for floating offshore wind turbines.

This document is the first annual report on dissemination and communication activities regarding DTOceanPlus project.

A coherent set of requirements have been developed for the DTOceanPlus suite of design tools based on analysis of gaps between the current state-of-the-art tools, learning from the DTOcean project, and the stakeholder expectations identified in the user consultation exercise. The requirements in this document are split into general requirements for the overall suite of tools, and specific requirements (functional, operational, user, interfacing, and data) for each of the design tools that is developed as part of this, which are split by work package and task. They act as user specifications for the tool development work packages, and focus the development effort to best meet the needs of the ocean energy industry. Subsequent tasks of the DTOceanPlus project develop these requirements into more detailed technical requirements and software specifications, prior to software coding and integration, then testing and validation.

The use of an ecological niche model has made it possible to characterize, on the one hand, the effects of climate change on the native species of the Bay of Biscay, such as displacements of favorable habitats towards higher latitudes, or, in a to a lesser extent, a decrease in the area of ​​favorable habitat for native species. On the other hand, the potential displacement of the favorable habitat of some subtropical species (currently present along the Moroccan coast) in the Bay of Biscay could be expected. They would then become non-indigenous species (NIS)

During the ABIOP project launch meeting, the consortium agreed to add a task to the project aimed at identifying the challenges of biocolonisation in an ORE context. This additional work is indeed necessary because it allows the organisation, updating and presentation of the reflections undertaken by biofouling experts from various industrial and research entities and federated by FEM, for several years on this topic.

This document aimed at developing a comprehensive communication plan developed at the beginning of the project in accordance with the overall project management. This plan was an evolving document built on a targeted communication of the DTOceanPluq project results and capitalization on the community. It is the reference framework for evaluating the impact of communication and dissemination activities.

Minutes and presentations of the intermediate and final meetings of GEOBIRD. These documents follow the progression and decisions taken during the course of the project.

The DTOceanPlus project has develop an open-source integrated suite of 2nd generation design tools for ocean energy technologies. The tools support the entire technology innovation and advancement process from concept, through development, to deployment, and is applicable at a range of levels: sub-system, device, and array. As one of the first tasks in the project, researchers at The University of Edinburgh conducted a consultation exercise, with the support of DTOceanPlus partners. This consultation addressed potential users and other key stakeholders for the DTOceanPlus tools, to identify and clarify their needs and requirements. A webinar was held initially, to introduce both the DTOceanPlus tools and the consultation. In addition to an online questionnaire, a series of individual interviews were held to obtain more nuanced input from key stakeholders. Opinions from over 70 industry professionals from a wide range of backgrounds were collated and analysed as part of the consultation. This includes representation of the four stakeholder categories identified: - Public funders, commercial investors, and insurance providers, - Innovators and developers, - Project developers, utilities, and supply chain, and - Policy makers, regulators, and standardisation bodies. Of the overall software characteristics considered, usability followed by flexibility & expandability then modularity were seen as most important. The proposed tools will need to deal with varying degrees of complexity, both at different stages in the project lifecycle and also for different user requirements. Several responses stressed the importance of linkages between the tools, and with external software. Nearly all respondents (>85%) indicated that they were likely or very likely to use DTOceanPlus at some stage in the project lifecycle. The results from the consultation exercise are presented in this report.