A new initiative aimed at harnessing tidal and river energy in North-West Europe has been launched. The SHINES project (Showcasing Hydrokinetic Energy Innovations for Northwest European Energy Sovereignty) brings together 14 partners from France, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany.
Co-financed by Interreg North-West Europe under its fourth call for projects, SHINES has a budget of €10 million, with €6 million provided by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project, led by the OPEN-C Foundation, will run from January 2025 to December 2028.
North-West Europe has significant potential for tidal and river energy due to its geographical features, including gulfs, straits, islands, inlets, and large rivers. However, development in the sector has been slow due to political, economic, and regulatory challenges. SHINES aims to address these barriers by scaling up three technologies – HydroWing, RivGen, and TidalKite – through real-world deployments in France and the Netherlands. The project will involve 100 organizations to support the adoption of these energy systems.
One of the key partners, Inyanga, will use its patented HydroWing technology to develop a 600kW tidal energy turbine at the Paimpol-Bréhat test site in France. The company will oversee the design, construction, installation, and operation of the turbine. Inyanga will also install and maintain the SeaQurrent TidalKite device at the same site, managing all offshore operations.
North-West Europe has expertise in water management, hydrodynamics, and innovative energy technologies. SHINES aims to enhance collaboration across countries to quantify energy potential and attract investment. The project aligns with Europe’s Net-Zero Strategy and the Critical Raw Materials Act, supporting the EU’s goal of achieving 1GW of ocean energy capacity by 2030 and 40GW by 2050. Ocean energy development could create 400,000 jobs by 2050, contributing to the revitalization of coastal economies historically reliant on shipbuilding, fishing, and fossil fuel industries.
SHINES project partners
- Fondation OPEN-C (Lead Partner)
- ORPC Ireland
- SeaQurrent
- Inyanga Tech (Inyanga Marine Energy Group)
- Bretagne Développement Innovation
- Gemeente Ameland
- Amelander Energiecoöperatie
- Cerema
- Bundesanstalt für Wasserbau
- Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
