The FORESEA (Funding Ocean Renewable Energy through Strategic European Action) Programme has awarded a ‘Recommendation for Support’ to ten ocean energy technology developers. This support will help commercialise these technologies by providing free access to open-sea test centres, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) said in a press release.

The first FORESEA call for applications closed on 21 September. Applications were assessed by FORESEA’s User Selection Board, which awarded a ‘Recommendation for Support’ to the following companies: Aquantis Technology, Corpower Ocean, GEPS Techno, Laminaria, Mako Turbines, Nautricity, Pytheas Technology, QED Naval, Seacurrent, and Zyba. These developers will receive final confirmation of support upon contract with the relevant test centre. A second call for applications was then formally launched at the Ocean Energy Europe 2016 Conference & Exhibition in Brussels in November.

“The FORESEA programme’s first call has been very successful with many high calibre applications received and we are delighted to recommend ten technologies for support packages. The level of interest we’ve had from technology developers in the programme has been very encouraging, and shows how vibrant the sector is becoming. We look forward to welcoming some of the applicants to EMEC in the near future,” FORESEA Manager Nic Wallet, from EMEC, was quoted as saying.

FORESEA is an EUR 11-million project, financed by Interreg Europe, which helps to bring offshore renewable energy technologies to market by providing free access through tailored support packages to a world-leading network of test centres: EMEC (UK), SEM-REV (France), SmartBay (Ireland) and Stichting Tidal Testing Centre (Netherlands). Access is awarded through a series of competitive calls for application.