JAN DE NUL NV

Their core work

Jan De Nul is one of Belgium's largest marine construction and dredging companies, bringing heavy offshore installation and logistics expertise to EU-funded renewable energy demonstrations. In H2020 projects, they contribute their fleet capacity and offshore engineering know-how to install and maintain wave energy converters, next-generation offshore wind turbines, and multi-use marine platforms. Their role is fundamentally that of an industrial enabler — they don't design the turbines or converters, but they are the ones who physically put them in the sea.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Jan De Nul's H2020 trajectory shows a clear scaling-up pattern. Their earliest project (UPWAVE, 2016) focused on wave energy at 1-MW scale, while later projects shifted to massive offshore wind (12+MW turbines in ReaLCoE) and multi-use marine platforms (UNITED). The keyword shift from "wave energy" to "offshore wind energy, digitalisation, grid parity, upscaling" signals a move from experimental marine renewables toward industrial-scale offshore wind deployment and cost optimization.

Jan De Nul is moving toward industrial-scale offshore wind and multi-use marine platforms, positioning for the massive European offshore wind buildout planned for the 2030s.

How they like to work

Jan De Nul consistently participates as a partner rather than a coordinator, which is typical for large industrial companies that contribute specific capabilities (in this case, marine construction) to research-driven consortia. With 56 unique partners across just 3 projects, they operate in large consortia (averaging ~19 partners per project), indicating comfort working in complex multi-party demonstrations. Their role is that of an infrastructure enabler: consortia need them for their fleet and offshore expertise, not for research leadership.

Across 3 projects, Jan De Nul has collaborated with 56 unique partners in 10 countries, reflecting the pan-European nature of offshore energy demonstration projects. Their network spans the North Sea and Atlantic offshore wind corridors where most European marine energy activity is concentrated.

What sets them apart

Jan De Nul brings something most research organizations and technology developers cannot: the actual ships, cranes, and offshore construction crews needed to install marine energy infrastructure at sea. For any consortium planning an offshore demonstration — whether wind, wave, tidal, or multi-use platforms — having a partner who can physically execute the marine works is essential. Few companies in Europe combine this marine construction scale with a track record in EU-funded innovation projects.

Highlights from their portfolio

• UPWAVE
  Largest single EC contribution (EUR 4.9M) — a flagship demonstration integrating wave energy converters into an offshore wind farm.
• ReaLCoE
  Targets next-generation 12+MW offshore wind turbines aiming for grid parity, with a project timeline extending to 2026 — their longest commitment.
• UNITED
  Explores multi-use offshore platforms combining energy production with other marine activities like aquaculture — a diversification from pure energy.