Advanced floating laboratory for the validation and experimentation of materials, components and equipment in real offshore environment
Designed and operated by
🚀 Access HarshLab Free of Charge through RISEnergy
Open Call Deadline: 18 November 2026
HarshLab is a grid-connected floating offshore renewable energy HUB that provides shared infrastructure for the testing, validation and grid integration of marine energy technologies
Equipment, new materials and coating can be evaluated in a wide variety of conditions ranging from atmospheric to seabed.
For the latter HarshLab offers a ROV for submarine inspections and a submarine modem for the development of novel communication systems with submerged devices.
The laboratory is moored in the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP), situated in the Gulf of Biscay, 1,6 nautical miles in front of the village of Armintza (Bizkaia, Spain).
Technical datasheet for HarshLab
Dimensions: 8,5 m diameter, 7,0 m high
Capacity:
- Exposition of more than 2000 samples in atmospheric, splash and immersion zones
- Space for component testing:
- 60 m2 outdoor deck
- 57 m2 in hold
- Main crane capacity: 1 ton @ 5,25 m
- Auxiliar davit capacity: 300 kg @ 1,5 m
- Maximum payload: 9 ton
Grid connection
- Connected to the submarine grid of BiMEP at 690V/160 kVA.
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Dynamic cable providing power transmission, auxiliary services and communications.
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Internal operating voltages: 400 V AC, 230 V AC, 24 V DC and 12 V DC.
- Redundant renewable generation system (photovoltaic and wind energy), supported by a battery system that provides energy to HarshLab.
Floating Offshore Renewable Energy Hub
- The platform reduces deployment costs and operational complexity by providing common offshore services, including power distribution, data communications and environmental monitoring.
- Since May 2026, the Marmok-A5 wave energy converter based on Oscillating Water Column (OWC) technology has been connected to the BiMEP electrical grid through HarshLab, demonstrating the platform’s capability to act as an offshore renewable energy integration hub.
Digital Monitoring
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Advanced offshore monitoring and data acquisition infrastructure.
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Real-time monitoring of environmental conditions, floating structure, moorings and dynamic cables.
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Digital Twin development, condition monitoring and predictive maintenance based on operational offshore data.
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Enhanced asset reliability, reduced operational costs and support for the deployment of innovative offshore renewable energy technologies
- Over 8 years providing real offshore testing environment for materials, components and renewable energy technologies
- Two generations of offshore floating platforms successfully deployed and operated under real sea conditions at BiMEP.
- Proven track record in materials, components and subsystem qualification, with more than 500 samples and sensors tested offshore.
- Trusted by more than 20 companies and technology developers for the validation of marine energy and offshore solutions.
- Unique capability to assess long-term effects of the marine environment, including corrosion, ageing and biofouling.
- Transitioned from a test platform to a grid-connected offshore infrastructure, enabling real energy production and technology demonstration.
- Since May 2026, Marmok-A5 OWC wave energy converter has been connected to the BIMEP grid through HarshLab.
Testing
Conditions for the assessment
In atmospheric zone
In splash zone
In immersion zone
Mooring components
Umbilicals, connectors and risers
ROV for submarine operations
Testing of components in seabed (65m depth)
Types of testing
CORROSION
Atmospheric and splash zones have a corrosivity classification of CX. Immersion zone is classified as Im2, so both ensure the highest corrosion rate.
AGEING
HarshLab is a suitable site for testing materials and components of any material that need to withstand offshore conditions and to maintain its properties as flexibility, colour, brightness; among others.
ANTIFOULING
BiMEP is an open sea area especially prone to biofouling growth, so test immersion and splash zones of HarshLab are particularly suitable for testing experimental antifouling solutions under real offshore conditions.
TESTING OF OFFSHORE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
HarshLab is a suitable place for testing all kinds of sensory and communication systems for the offshore industry. The Laboratory has a 3G telecommunication connection, meteorological station, GPS based tracking system, submarine modem for communications of submerged devices with Surface and a small ROV for inspections.
RISERS, CONECTORS AND UMBILICALS
HarshLab offers two available connectors in the hull, which poses an excellent opportunity for the validation of innovative connection systems of risers, conectors and umbilicals in real conditions.
TESTING EQUIPMENT IN SERVICE
Able to host validation of grid connected prototypes in service in immersion, deck or in hold.
Additional Testing
Corrosion and characterization in our Labs: We complement the results obtained in HarshLab with additional tests of corrosion, coating characterization, ageing in climatic chambers or under mechanical solicitation… that can be performed according to international standards or under specific demands.
Data Lab Services: We can provide to the users a full set of data related to the ongoing trials: environmental parameters (meteorological, oceanographic data), corrosion rate, appearance…) as well as valuable correlations between the observed variables, using advanced data analytics techniques.
R&D in HarshLab
HarshLab is an infrastructure open both to private projects and collaborative public private partnership initiatives. HarshLab helps researchers to understand in a reliable way how offshore conditions may hinder lifetime expectancy of components and equipment designed to withstand harsh conditions in offshore industry
Last News
RISEnergy Open Call Offers Access to HarshLab for Offshore Renewable Energy Testing
HarshLab is pleased to announce its participation in the latest RISEnergy Transnational Access Call, offering researchers, technology developers and companies the opportunity to access its unique offshore testing infrastructure free of charge through the RISEnergy...
HarshLab Hosts Successful K66 Ditrel Connector Demonstration for Floating Offshore Wind
HarshLab has successfully hosted the offshore demonstration of the K66 connector, a key milestone within the KONEKTA2 project aimed at developing innovative electrical connection solutions for floating offshore wind applications. The operation demonstrated the rapid...
IDOM Deploys the Upgraded MARMOK-A5 at BiMEP Through HarshLab as a Floating Electrical HUB
HarshLab Enables Grid Integration of IDOM's Upgraded MARMOK-A5 at BiMEP HarshLab has played a key role in the latest deployment of IDOM's upgraded MARMOK-A5 wave energy converter at the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP), providing the floating electrical...
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HarshLab has been partly funded by Basque Government through the Grant Programme for the Acquisition of Scientific-Technological Infrastructures -AZPITEK nº PZ-2021/00001 – HL2.0
