The OPEN-C Foundation test sites
After fundamental research and technological research linked to the development of prototypes, offshore testing plays a major role in experimental development.
The OPEN-C Foundation coordinates the five offshore sites in France. They will be completed by the creation of the first "High Power" site.
The OPEN-C Foundation coordinates the five offshore sites operated independently in France over the past few years by complementary operational teams. These five sites will be completed by the creation of the first "High Power" site.
In Europe, only a few sites offer offshore testing possibilities: BIMEP in Spain, PLOCAN in the Canary Islands, Wavec in Portugal, the Metcentre site (Marine Energy Test Centre) in Norway, OTS in the Netherlands and EMEC in the north of Scotland.
Today's test sites
In figures
TODAY
35mw of power
52km of cables
5 à 75m of depth
12 prototypes that can be hosted
TOMORROW
95mw of power
152km of cables
5 à 195m of depth
16 prototypes that can be hosted
Paimpol-Bréhat
Located off the island of Bréhat in the Côtes d'Armor, the Paimpol-Bréhat site is an offshore test site for the development of the tidal turbine industry.
The test site is exceptional due to its demanding characteristics (turbulence, tides), the expertise and the operational connection infrastructure made available. It was originally managed by EDF, SEENEOH and Bretagne Développement Innovation, with the support of the Brittany Region.
Two projects have been hosted since 2008: the OpenHydro trials, for which three generations of tidal turbines were tested until July 2017, then between 2019 and 2021 it was the turn of the HQ-OCEAN tidal turbine designed by the French start-up HydroQuest.
Sainte-Anne du Portzic
Located in Brest harbour, this in situ test station is used to test different types of innovative equipment, particularly for marine renewable energy, by getting closer to real conditions of use at sea.
The prototypes tested are on a 1/10th scale and include floating wind turbines, such as EOLINK's tested in 2018, hybrid platforms, GEPS Techno's PH4S platform in 2015, or instrumentation buoys such as SONOFLASH (THALES company) in 2020. The site also allows environmental, physico-chemical and biological monitoring campaigns to be carried out.
SEM-REV
Created in 2007, the SEM-REV is operated bu the OPEN-C Foundation since 2023. It has all the equipment at sea and on land allowing the development, validation and optimization of energy recovery systems mainly from offshore swell and wind.
The site has hosted FLOATGEN (floating wind turbine developed by BW Ideol) prototypes since 2018 and WAVEGEM (GEPS Techno's hybrid platform) from 2019 to 2021, or SEALHYFE in 2023 as well as several research projects.
In 2022, new investments were made,
financed by the French Government as part of the France 2030 plan operated by ADEME, to develop the site thus giving new users access to the infrastructure.
SEENEOH
The site is located in the Garonne River, downstream from the Pont de Pierre in Bordeaux. Located 100 kilometres from the mouth of the Gironde estuary, it is exposed to strong currents influenced by the diurnal tidal cycle of the Bay of Biscay.
The site is used to test river or marine tidal turbines on an intermediate scale.
MISTRAL
The concession for the Mistral test site in the Mediterranean (off the coast of Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône) has been managed by Valeco since 2019. The site, located 5km from the coast, is under construction, which is financed by the French Government as part of the France 2030 plan operated by ADEME, awaiting funding from Europe (FTJ 13) and the Regions
Authorisation has been granted to install two floating wind turbines.
A future "High Power" test site
In order to meet the needs of the next decade to connect technologies ranging from 10 MW to 20 MW, the construction of a “High Power” site is necessary.
With the support of the French Government, as part of the France 2030 plan operated by ADEME, the Foundation is carrying out preliminary studies. This site will make it possible to de-risk certain aspects of the connection of future commercial floating wind farms.
The SEM-REV, MISTRAL sites and the future Grande Puissance Site are financed by the Government as part of the France 2030 plan operated by ADEME.