Solar-Powered Ocean Monitoring System with Real-Time Data(AD1)
Overview
EOM Offshore deployed a solar-powered ocean monitoring buoy system in the Arabian Gulf to deliver high-resolution environmental data from the surface to the seafloor.
Designed for endurance in harsh marine conditions, the system provides real-time satellite data access, reducing reliance on vessel visits and enabling long-term, cost-effective environmental monitoring.
This deployment represents a full-stack ocean observing solution, integrating atmospheric, oceanographic, and biological sensors into a single platform. It supports scientific research, offshore infrastructure planning, aquaculture development, and climate resilience initiatives.
The Challenge
Monitoring in the Arabian Gulf requires continuous, fine-scale data to capture dynamic environmental changes. Traditional ship-based surveys are expensive, intermittent, and limited in scope. Stakeholders needed a long-duration, autonomous system capable of providing both surface measurements and vertical water-column profiles with real-time data delivery.
Our Solution
EOM Offshore engineered and deployed a renewable energy–powered buoy system equipped with environmental sensors and integrated with a wave-powered Prawler profiler from McLane Research Laboratories.
Surface measurements included:
- Wind speed and direction
- Dew point and barometric pressure
- Albedo (radiative reflectivity)
Subsurface profiling with the McLane Prawler and Sea-Bird Scientific sensors captured:
- Conductivity, Temperature, and Depth (CTD)
- Dissolved oxygen
- Chlorophyll and turbidity
The McLane Prawler autonomously climbed and descended the mooring line, collecting hourly vertical profiles. All data was then transmitted via satellite every hour, giving project stakeholders continuous access to critical ocean intelligence.
Key advantages of this solution included:
- Renewable power: Solar-powered platform for long-term endurance.
- Autonomous profiling: McLane Prawler enabled high-resolution subsurface data collection.
- Real-time transmission: Hourly satellite updates for immediate remote access.
- Comprehensive coverage: Combined atmospheric, surface, and subsurface measurements.
- Scalability: Adaptable for research, offshore energy, aquaculture, and climate monitoring.
Summary
This project showcases EOM Offshore’s ability to integrate solar-powered ocean monitoring buoys, real-time satellite communications, and autonomous ocean profiling into a single platform. With partners like McLane Research Laboratories and Sea-Bird Scientific, EOM Offshore delivers innovative, scalable solutions for long-term ocean observing systems, supporting environmental monitoring, infrastructure planning, and climate resilience worldwide.