The technology is ready. The first tidal pilot farms hit the water in 2015 and 2016 in Scotland, the Netherlands, and France. 10 years later, the technology is ready for large-scale deployment. Several European champions have been waiting for the opportunity to develop their technology beyond those pilots on an industrial scale.

Market Visibility

The French Government is finally giving the French tidal sector—and European supply chain—the visibility it needs to attract private investment and trigger industrialization. Large-scale tenders will guarantee a return for investors, who have been waiting for such a signal. Some, such as QAIR, were already committed to tidal, but others will no doubt follow their lead.

The EU has long supported the industry via its Horizon Europe and Innovation Fund programs. National support was the last missing piece of the financing puzzle.

Made in Europe

Deployments at this scale will kick-start mass manufacturing, standardization, and ultimately cost reductions, paving the way for more, cheaper, and homegrown electricity from the sea. Ocean energy machines are developed, built, and assembled in Europe and will create hundreds of thousands of local jobs.

Rémi Gruet, Ocean Energy Europe CEO, said: “The French Government has finally confirmed its intention to develop a tidal industry made in France and in Europe. The signal to investors is very clear: there is a new renewable technology you can now invest in! This will benefit the entire value chain, from energy producers to public bodies to consumers. We look forward to work with the sector and national authorities to make this industrialization a success akin to that of offshore wind or solar PV.”