The EUR 11-million FORESEA programme has opened its first call for support package applications. Successful applicants will receive free access to test ocean energy technologies in real sea conditions at the project’s network of open sea test centres. The programme is funded through Interreg NWE, part of the European Regional Development Fund.
The FORESEA project was launched in July to help enterprises test and demonstrate low-carbon energy technologies in real sea environments at the following test infrastructures:
- European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Orkney Islands, UK;
- SEM-REV, Nantes, France;
- SmartBay, Galway, Ireland; and
- Tidal Testing Centre, Den Oever, the Netherlands.
The call for applications is open to parties who wish to deploy their technology for testing before June 2018. Preference will be given to technologies ready for deployment in 2016 and early 2017. The deadline for applications is 18:00 CET, 21 September 2016.
“The test infrastructures on offer through the FORESEA programme are amongst the best in the world and present a great example of European collaboration and cooperation,” SmartBay Ireland General Manager John Breslin said in a statement.
"Moreover, FORESEA provides an important test and validation pathway for ocean energy technology developers in their journey towards commercialisation. We look forward to working with developers through the programme to help them get their technologies into the water to contribute to the growth of the ocean renewables sector,” he said.
For more information on the first call for applications, click here.