SHINES Project to Harness Tidal and River Energy Potential in North-West Europe

The SHINES project (Showcasing Hydrokinetic energy Innovations for Northwest European Energy Sovereignty) launches this week, bringing together 14 partners from France, Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany.

Co-financed by Interreg North-West Europe under the 4^th call for projects, SHINES is set to unlock the potential of tidal and river energy systems, an opportunity still largely untapped in the region.

SHINES will address these challenges by replicating and scaling up three innovative solutions through grid connection and real sea deployments in France and the Netherlands. Some of the most promising sites across the region will be developed, engaging 100 organisations in the adoption of tidal and river energy systems.

SeaQurrent is bringing the TidalKite technology to real-sea demonstrations in Ameand and the Paimpol-Bréhat test site. With its unique 3D-harnessing capabilities, the TidalKite significantly expands the tidal energy market, reaching locations with low velocity and shallow water. The SHINES demonstration and action plans will lay a solid base for further TidalKite deployment, ensuring predictable and reliable renewable energy 24/7/365 to strengthen NWEuropean energy security.

NWE's wealth of expertise in water management, hydrodynamics, flow measurements, and innovative technologies such as RivGen, HydroWing, and TidalKite provides a solid foundation for progress. SHINES will catalyse transnational collaboration, enabling the region to consolidate efforts, quantify its energy potential, and drive investments to achieve generation capacity targets.

The project is aligned with Europe’s Net-Zero Strategy and the Critical Raw Materials Act, contributing to the goals of 1GW of ocean energy capacity by 2030 and 40GW by 2050. Ocean energy holds the promise of creating 400,000 high-value jobs by 2050, revitalising coastal communities with histories rooted in the shipbuilding, fishing, and oil and gas industries.

Contacts 

Sandrine Jamet – Fondation OPEN-C – presse@fondation-open-c.org