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HydroQuest and Normandie Hydroliennes, two pioneering companies in tidal energy, have secured €51 million in Innovation Fund grants to advance France’s tidal energy capacity at Raz Blanchard. The funding, awarded under the Innovation Fund’s 2023 call, highlights European support for scaling ocean energy solutions, Ocean Energy Europe (OEE) emphasized.
These two projects are set to add 29 MW to the projected 179 MW of publicly supported ocean energy projects across Europe over the next five years, furthering both technology and energy security goals.
HydroQuest, in collaboration with Qair, is preparing to develop the 17 MW FloWatt tidal farm, targeting completion by 2026. This initiative will bring six tidal turbines to the waters off Normandy, powering approximately 20,000 homes, according to OEE. The FloWatt project also benefits from substantial financial support from the French government.
Meanwhile, Normandie Hydroliennes is moving forward with plans to install four 3 MW turbines at its NH1 tidal farm. Set to begin operation in 2028, NH1 is expected to deliver 33.9 GWh of electricity annually. Both the FloWatt and NH1 projects underscore Europe’s commitment to advancing renewable energy technologies and strengthening its competitive edge in the field.
“These two awards are clear proof that tidal energy has reached technological maturity and is on the road to commercialization,” said Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe. “The French government’s strategic support has positioned tidal energy as the next major French industrial success.”
HydroQuest originally unveiled plans for a 17.5 MW tidal energy farm at the Raz Blanchard site in May 2021, following its acquisition of the concession from former operator EDF Renewables. In December 2023, ABL France completed a marine technical study to support Normandie Hydroliennes and HydroQuest in safely advancing their tidal turbine pilot projects.
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_24_5423
