The Challenge
As global attention intensifies on sustainable solutions for energy and water provision, especially in remote or island communities, the MUSICA Project emerged as a pioneering initiative to integrate multiple renewable energy technologies on an autonomous offshore platform.
The primary challenge lay in achieving seamless interoperability between disparate systems—wind, solar, aquaculture, desalination, and energy storage, while ensuring consistent power availability and system reliability. NeoDyne’s critical task was to serve as the chief electrical integrator, engineering a unified system architecture that could maintain autonomy and resilience in harsh marine environments.
Our Approach
NeoDyne approached the MUSICA Project with a specialised focus on electrical integration and automation engineering, leveraging its deep domain expertise in industrial control systems. The company undertook the full design and implementation of the Energy Management System (EMS) – a sophisticated framework to orchestrate renewable energy inputs, storage mechanisms, and load demands.
Key technical strategies included:
- Design and deployment of a centralized PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) to manage process automation.
- Development of a SCADA interface for remote monitoring and control.
- Integration of telecoms, switchgear, inverters, and power transformers to maintain system-wide communication and voltage transformation.
- Full cable design and connection to Oinousses Island for grid and utility interfacing.
About Musica
The MUSICA project (Multiple Use of Space for Island Clean Autonomy) is an EU-funded initiative that develops a smart, multi-use platform (MUP) to provide clean energy, water, and aquaculture services for small islands. Integrating wind, solar, and wave power (870 kW total) with advanced energy storage, the platform also supports desalination (up to 1,000 m³ of fresh water) and green aquaculture. Piloted on Oinousses Island in Greece, MUSICA aims to reach Technology Readiness Level 7 and aligns with the EU’s Blue Growth and Green Deal strategies.
This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement number 862252.
Requirements
The MUSICA Project stakeholders required a fully autonomous, multi-use offshore platform (MUP) that could:
- Generate electricity from renewable sources (solar and wind).
- Store energy for use during low generation periods.
- Produce potable water through renewable-powered desalination.
- Support aquaculture operations with automated feeding and health monitoring.
- Transmit power to shore and support island-level electrification.
Importantly, these systems needed to operate in sync without manual intervention and be resilient enough to withstand oceanic conditions.
Challenges Faced
- System Cohesion: Integrating diverse energy systems (wind, solar, HPES, batteries) under a single control framework.
- Environmental Harshness: Engineering reliable automation and energy storage systems for offshore use.
- Energy Continuity: Designing backup mechanisms (e.g., battery and HPES) to handle intermittent generation.
- Real-time Monitoring: Enabling remote supervision for all critical components (aquaculture, desalination, energy flow).
Final Outcome
NeoDyne successfully delivered an intelligent, fully integrated EMS that synchronised all renewable technologies and operational modules of the MUP. Key achievements included:
- Enabling 24/7 operation via smart load balancing and backup systems.
- Providing 60,000 watts of solar energy, sufficient for powering 30 households.
- Supporting 70-bar HPES energy storage, innovated by the University of Malta, for high-capacity reserve power.
- Transforming voltage from 400V to 20kV to facilitate energy export to shore.
- Automating aquaculture and desalination processes through PLCs and SCADA interfaces, reducing manual oversight.
NeoDyne’s role was pivotal in turning MUSICA from a conceptual design into a practical, sustainable solution, showcasing what’s possible when engineering meets ecological foresight.
Relevant Content
What is the role of NeoDyne in the MUSICA Project?
Watch this video to see how NeoDyne partners with Musica to support the integration of behind-the-meter solutions from renewable energy sources, including wind and solar power, while also providing DS3 and DSU integration services.
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