FORESEA backs 10 ocean energy technology developers

An €11 million EU-funded FORESEA initiative has selected ten ocean energy developers to demonstrate their technologies at Europe’s world-leading ocean energy test facilities free of charge.

The support will help commercialize these technologies by providing free access through tailored support packages to the network of test centers which includes EMEC, SEM-REV, SmartBay and Dutch Tidal Testing Centre.

The companies selected in the first FORESEA call include Aquantis Technology, CorPower Ocean, GEPS Techno, Laminaria, Mako Turbines, Nautricity, Pytheas Technology, QED Naval, Seacurrent, and Zyba.

Applications were assessed by FORESEA’s User Selection Board, who have awarded a ‘Recommendation for Support’ to ten technology developers, while the final confirmation of support will be granted upon contract with the relevant test center.

“We are very proud to obtain this FORESEA award. It will help us finance sea trials on the SEM-REV site and then to reach sea-proven status with a new power range for our technology. Being selected as a promising technology is also a very positive sign for our future investors,” said Jean-Luc Longeroche, Chairman & CEO of Geps Techno.

Bruno Retailleau, President of the French region Pays de la Loire and President of the Atlantic Arc Commission of CPMR, said: “The European Union should foster these bottom-up developments by supporting R&I projects and facilitating commercialization. Tests in open-sea conditions are a critical stage in validating a technology but they require significant levels of investment.

“The FORESEA project addresses in a very concrete manner this challenge. Thanks to FORESEA, two new ocean energy technologies should be tested in Pays de la Loire.”

Funding Ocean Renewable Energy through Strategic European Action (FORESEA) project is funded by the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) program, part of the European Regional Development Fund.