As Europe searches for local, sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, SHINES (Showcasing Hydrokinetic Energy Innovations for Northwest European Energy Sovereignty) focuses on a powerful yet untapped natural force: tidal and river currents. Unlike wind and solar, these water flows are highly predictable and reliable—making them the perfect complement to existing renewable energy sources.
This ambitious €10 million project, co-funded by the European Union through Interreg NWE, brings together 14 partners from 6 countries to test three innovative technologies in real-world conditions: RivGen, Hydro Wing, and TidalKite. Tests will take place in France and the Netherlands, with a clear goal: to prove that hydrokinetic energy can play a key role in Europe’s energy transition.
Beyond demonstration, SHINES will identify and de-risk the most promising sites in each partner country, working hand in hand with local stakeholders to pave the way for the large-scale deployment of hydrokinetic solutions.
SHINES is about an entire region coming together to harness the steady power of water—turning rivers and tides into a clean, local, and shared source of energy for the future, efficiently using space and grid.
Fondation OPEN-C involvement
The OPEN-C Foundation is the french offshore test centre for floating wind and marine renewable energy (MRE). It leverages over a decade of experience in derisking tidal and river energy technologies, through the development, operation, and maintenance of several real-sea test sites for a more rapid energy transition.
As project leader of the SHINES project, we're looking forward to the challenge of developing several tidal turbine projects, by leading the project and in particular by testing them at our 2 dedicated sites: Paimpol-Bréhat and SEENEOH. Committed with all partners to the development of tidal and river energy, we will dedicate all our transversal expertise to the SHINES project.
Project Partners:
| Fondation OPEN-C (Lead Partner)
| ORPC Ireland
| SeaQurrent
| Inyanga Tech
| Bretagne Développement Innovation
| Gemeente Ameland
| Amelander Energiecoöperatie
| Cerema
| Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau
| Haute Ecole Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale
| Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
| ÉireComposites Teo.
| Foras na Mara – Marine Institute
| Université de Liège
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