FORESEA project backs 10 ocean energy tech developers

Ten ocean energy technology developers are to get support under the FORESEA (Funding Ocean Renewable Energy through Strategic European Action) programme, it was announced today.

The EUR-11-million (USD 12.2m) programme, financed by Interreg Europe, was launched earlier this year. It aims to help bring offshore renewable energy technologies to market by providing free access to a network of open-sea test centres -- the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in the UK, SEM-REV in France, SmartBay in Ireland and Stichting Tidal Testing Centre in the Netherlands.

Following a first call for applications that closed in September, 10 technology developers have been awarded a "Recommendation for Support." These are Aquantis Technology, Corpower Ocean, GEPS Techno, Laminaria, Mako Turbines, Nautricity, Pytheas Technology, QED Naval, Seacurrent and Zyba.

The support will be confirmed upon contract with the relevant test centre, EMEC said in a statement.

EMEC's Nic Wallet, FORESEA manager, described the programme's first call as very successful with many high calibre applications received.

Patrik Moller, chief executive of wave energy technology developer CorPower Ocean said: "This FORESEA award is an important part of the financial package which will help us to fully capitalise on our installation at EMEC, leverage further investment, and progress towards the marketplace." The company has just secured a EUR-4-million EU grant (http://renewables.seenews.com/news/wave-energy-firm-corpower-gets-eur-4m-eu-grant-545915).

Jean-Luc Longeroche, head of wave energy powered autonomous platform developer Geps Techno said the FORESEA award will help the company finance sea trials on the SEM-REV site and then to reach sea-proven status with a new power range for its technology.

The announcement of the awards was made at the Ocean Energy Europe 2016 Conference and Exhibition in Brussels.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.105)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!