The Centre of Ocean Renewable Energy and Ecosystems aims to be a leading centre in research and development, education, and manpower training for the advancement of ocean renewable energy and the ecosystem that supports the industry.

Our Strategic Thrusts focus on three interconnected pillars - Research, Education and Collaboration. Through strategic R&D programmes, we seek to generate new knowledge and intellectual property. Through education and manpower development, we nurture talent for Singapore’s ocean renewable energy sector. Through collaboration, we forge new partnerships with industry, research institutes and tertiary institutions to accelerate innovation and translate research into impact.

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Our activities are sponsored by several Professorships:

• Seatrium Professorship (replacing Keppel Professorship)
• Lloyd's Register Foundation Professorship
• MPA Maritime Technology Professorship
• EDB Subsea Engineering Professorships Programme
• EDB Petroleum Engineering Professorships Programme

In 2023, the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)(opens in new tab) with Seatrium Limited to establish a named professorship.

The MOU establishes the Seatrium Professorship for a minimum of two years. The Seatrium Professorships and Seatrium Visiting Professorships aim to attract top talent in energy transition and sustainability to Singapore.  The purpose is to promote knowledge transfer, leading to the development of innovative technology and processes, that will boost Singapore’s competitiveness globally.

On 19 May 2026, Seatrium reaffirmed its commitment to advancing research and industry collaboration with the NUS College of Design and Engineering (CDE) during the RECHARGE Wind Power Summit 2026 Asia-Pacific.(opens in new tab)

The renewed support strengthens the Seatrium Professorship and promotes research in offshore infrastructure, sustainability, and innovative engineering solutions. The partnership will also build on the existing initiatives such as the NUS Seatrium Public Lecture, providing a platform for academia and industry to exchange ideas, foster innovation, and address emerging challenges in the offshore and energy sectors.

As a result of the MOU, we have organised a series of Seatrium Professorship Forum(opens in new tab) delivered by the appointed Seatrium Visiting Professors.

CORE² was funded by several research programmes:

• Offshore Technology Research Programme (funded by A*STAR and MPA)
• Multiphase Flow Analysis for Downhole Oil & Gas Equipment (funded by A*STAR)
• Materials Innovation for Marine & Offshore Industry (funded by A*STAR)
• Deepwater Technology (funded by Singapore Maritime Institute with co­funding from companies)

CORE² has also been involved in several Joint Industry Projects (JIP):

• Static and Fatigue Strength of Grout ­Reinforced Tabular Joints. Sponsors: ABS, ClassNK, Densit, Lloyd's Register, McDermott International, Petronas Carigali. Tata Steel.
• Improved Partial Joint Penetration (PJP­plus). Sponsors: ABS, HGG, McDermott, Nippon Steel.
• Spudcan­ Pile Interaction. Sponsors: ABS, ExxonMobil, Shell UK, Total SA, Keppel Offshore & Marine.
• Spudcan­ Footprint Mitigation. Sponsors: ABS, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Fugro, GL Noble Denton, Keppel Offshore & Marine, Maersk Drilling, MPA.
• InSafe JIP (Jack­up Foundation Assessment Study). Project Team: RPS Energy, NUS, University of Oxford, University of Western Australia. Sponsors: ABS, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Shell UK, Braemar Falconer, Fugro, Geo­Danish Geotechnical Institute, Global Maritime, Noble Drilling, GL Noble Denton, Premier Oil & Gas Services, Premium Drilling/COSL, DONG Energy, HSE UK, ENSCO International, Keppel Offshore & Marine, Maersk Drilling, Matthews Daniel, Transocean (Global Santa Fe).
• JIP on Mooring Structural Integrity. Sponsors: ABS, ClasssNK, ExxonMobil, Franklin Offshore Lloyd's Register, Singapore Maritime Institute.

Main PI: A/Prof ANG Kok Keng
Co-PI: Prof CHOO Yoo Sang, Prof QIAN Xudong, Prof LEUNG Chun Fai, Prof TAN Kiang Hwee, Prof WANG Chiang Meng, Prof CHOW Yean Kow, Dr Paul ONG

Funded by the Ministry of National Development (MND) and completed in 2019, the research project is a collaboration between NUS, JTC, SINTEF, NTNU and Shimizu.  The objective of the project is to develop innovative solutions, design recommendations and guidelines for Very Large Floating Structures (VLFS), focusing on:

• Floating Hydrocarbon Storage Facility
• Floating Bridge
• Modular Multi-Purpose Floating Structures (MPFS)

A scaled model of the Modular MPFS was tested at SINTEF and NUS.  At the end of the project, SINTEF and NUS has jointly developed a Guidelines and Recommendations for Moored Floating Structures in Singapore.

Main PI: Prof Chien Ming Wang, The University of Queensland 
Project Team: The University of Queensland, Griffith University, University of Tasmania, TCOMS, NUS, Tassal Group, Huon Aqua, BMT, Maccaferri

The SeaFisher project aims to develop an innovative offshore fish pen designed for high-energy ocean environments characterised by deep waters, strong waves, fast currents and high winds. The design features an interlocking modular system of cubic fish pens, offering a scalable solution for sustainable offshore aquaculture. The 2 × 6 configuration comprises of 12 fish pens, providing a total culture volume of 96,000 m³ and the capacity to accommodate up to 288,000 salmon. 

The project is supported by the Blue Economy Cooperative Research Centre (BE CRC) under the Australian Government's CRC Program.  The project involves collaboration among universities, research institutes and industry partners, with CORE2 contributing as a member of the project team. 

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Main PI: Prof Michael SI (TCOMS/NUS)
Co-PI: Prof QUEK Ser Tong, Prof CHOO Yoo Sang, Prof QIAN Xudong, A/Prof LOW Ying Min, Prof KHOO Boo Cheong (ME), Prof Sam GE (ECE)

The ENSURE project ($4.1 million) is an Industry Alignment Fund – Pre-Positioning Programmes funded by A*STAR.  It aims to develop the next generation of Marine & Offshore (M&O) engineering solutions that will enable remote monitoring, provide predictability, and support decision management.

The project runs from 1 Mar 2020 – 31 Aug 2023.  It is a multi-agency project led by the Technology Centre for Offshore and Marine, Singapore (TCOMS) and CORE² is one of the key collaborating partners.

The project aims to develop the following:

• Sensor-interfaced digital twin incorporating space resolved wave forcing to facilitate structural health assessment.
• Data-driven response model to identify the critical substructure or local component, as well as to assess the status of asset and associated risks to operations
• Deep learning data analytics and pattern recognition of substructure identification and asset health assessment

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The impact of ENSURE outcomes is directly relevant to the M&O industry through the following:

• Productivity: An increase in the operating envelop of offshore assets through smart sensing, improved modelling, and knowledge of the behavior. The response of the operating systems in a complex operating environment would result in higher productivity and safer operations.
• Structural Integrity: An asset management system that supports data infrastructure assurance with smart sensing for structural health monitoring. The system includes alternative methods of survey that would facilitate predictive maintenance, enhanced detection of structural degradation, prediction of asset lifecycle, and reduction of intrusive surveys and duration. The system aims to achieve self-certification of the operating assets.
• Survivability in Extreme Environments: With climate change and increased storm intensity, we could improve our understanding of the extreme environment by using risk-based methods. The improved prediction of the survivability of structures would help ensure the safety and well-being of the crew onboard, strengthen decisions on de-manning, and improve the reliability of fatigue life estimation.

The project also involves collaborations with Singapore-based M&O industry partners, working closely on their specific offshore rig and platform designs to co-create knowledge and co-innovate solutions.  This in turn enhances Operational Excellence in terms of Productivity, and Asset Health Management in terms of Integrity and Survivability.

In addition, the project helps build capabilities in new areas that enable Singapore’s M&O industry players to remain globally competitive and capture emerging market opportunities, specifically in smart systems and operations in LNG and offshore renewables sectors. This allows Singapore to remain a premier centre of choice for customised solutions, quality products, value-added, and reliable services in the global M&O market.

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PI: Assoc Prof Low Ying Min

Awarded in 2024 under the NRF–Singapore-China Joint Flagship Project, this project is a collaboration between NUS, TCOMS and China, aiming to develop a novel floating hybrid tidal–wave energy system for marine energy harvesting in complex ocean environments. 

Key achievements and progress to date include: 

• Assessment of wave and tidal energy resources, including electricity generation and carbon-emission reduction potential. 
• Design of the catamaran floater and NSGA-II-based mooring system optimisation.
• Development and validation of numerical models for wave–current interactions and fully coupled TWES dynamics.
• Performance and fatigue analyses of the tidal turbine under wave–current effects. 
• Development of structural health monitoring methods, including reference-free damage detection and coarse-to-refined damage localisation. 
• Joint optimisation of the wave energy converter array with the China team and fabrication of the floating system model for ocean-basin testing. 

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• A/Prof. Low Ying Min(opens in new tab), Director, CORE²
• Dr. Paul Ong(opens in new tab), Associate Director, CORE²

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