Seaturns, a startup based in Bordeaux and Fondation OPEN-C have signed an agreement for the deployment, in summer 2025, of a full-scale wave energy converter demonstrator at the SEM-REV offshore test site, located off the coast of Le Croisic. This partnership marks a key milestone in the finalization of Seaturns’ technology and highlights the crucial role played by Fondation OPEN-C in supporting emerging technologies in the Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) sector.
A RAPID AND LOGICAL STEP FORWARD FOR SEATURNS
Less than six months after completing 1:4 scale tests—conducted between October 2023 and February 2025 at the Sainte-Anne du Portzic site (Ifremer)—Seaturns is already ready to move to full-scale. This swift progress is due to the simple and robust design of its wave energy system, which is based on the oscillation of a floating device coupled with pneumatic wave energy conversion.
“Seaturns is moving fast because our system was designed to be both efficient and easy to industrialize,”
explains Vincent Tournerie, founder and president of Seaturns.
TESTING FOR VALIDATION WITH THE SUPPORT OF OPEN-C’S INFRASTRUCTURE
The SEM-REV test site, operated by Fondation OPEN-C, offers a complete and secure environment for full-scale testing of MRE technologies. Its underwater infrastructure, environmental monitoring systems, and technical expertise allow developers to de-risk their prototypes before moving toward commercial deployment.
“Testing a prototype at sea is greatly facilitated by having access to dedicated infrastructure. This allows developers to focus on their technology. That’s the mission of Fondation OPEN-C, and we are currently preparing the site and protocols to host the demonstrator developed by Seaturns,”
says Yves Perignon, Scientific and Technical Director in Fondation OPEN-C.
AN AGREEMENT FRAMING THE TEST CAMPAIGN
The agreement signed between Seaturns and Fondation OPEN-C sets the operational framework for the deployment, operation, and decommissioning of the demonstrator. Preparations are already underway on both the demonstrator and test site sides for the upcoming installation, which is planned to last 18 months at sea. The energy produced during these tests will be dissipated. This initial phase will validate system reliability, certify electricity production performance, and assess environmental impacts. The results will provide a critical foundation for the move to commercial-scale deployment.
DRIVING MOMENTUM FOR THE FRENCH WAVE ENERGY SECTOR
This project is part of the SEAWEC program, coordinated by Seaturns, aimed at preparing the technology for industrialization. It follows the IAS-WEC project, winner of the 2023 i-Nov innovation competition led by Bpifrance and ADEME, and supported by the French government (France 2030) and the European Union (France Relance / Next Generation EU). This full-scale demonstration represents a central milestone in Seaturns’ commercial development strategy. Starting in 2026, the startup plans to deploy its first commercial wave energy farms, launching the industrial production of low-carbon electricity generated by ocean waves. By making its infrastructure and expertise available, Fondation OPEN-C is actively supporting the acceleration of the wave energy sector.
