After a decade of research and six months of intensive manufacturing, Seaturns has begun full-scale Phase 1 testing of its wave energy system in the port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire.
The prototype, a 42-ton cylindrical steel structure , 15 meters long and 6 meters in diameter, is designed to generate up to 200 kW of power. Its fast and efficient construction has been possible thanks to the collaboration with MECASOUD, the company in charge of manufacturing.
What does Phase 1 testing consist of?
During this first phase, Seaturns teams successfully performed buoyancy maneuvers, safety operations, onboard access and assembly of the electrical conversion module. electrical conversion module. The most outstanding achievement is that, in only 2 hours and with a small team, they were able to simulate a repair (disassembly and assembly of the electrical module).
Thanks to this phase, they were able to demonstrate that maintenance can be done at sea, without the need for costly towing of the device to dry dock.
What comes next?
Phase 2 testing is scheduled for the first quarter of 2026, where they will take the device out into the open ocean to test it in real-world conditions for at least a year. Among the objectives of this phase are:
- Certify how much power it can reliably generate.
- Verify that it is resistant to storms and harsh marine conditions.
- Study its impact on the marine environment.
The success of this phase will be decisive in achieving industrialization and commercialization, scheduled for the end of 2026.
Who is supporting this project?
The project is part of the IAS-WEC program, winner of the i-Nov competition, and is financially supported by the #France2030 plan, the ADEME and Bpifrance, in addition to the support of the European Union through the fund Next Generation EU.
In terms of industrial support, the port of Nantes – Saint Nazaire has played a crucial role as a test site, and the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique is contributing to the validation and technical support of the project.
Wave energy: a clean and competitive option
Wave energy is enormous and constant, but it has always been a real challenge to capture it efficiently and economically. Seaturns is not only proving that its prototype works, it is also proving that it can be economical, which is the biggest challenge in this field.
Source: Seaturns
