Back to homepage

SHINES project launches to harness tidal and river energy potential in North-West Europe

14.03.2025

The SHINES project (Showcasing Hydrokinetic energy Innovations for Northwest European Energy Sovereignty)launches this week, bringing together 14 partners from France, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany, with lead partner Fondation OPEN-C,  and technology developers ORPC Ireland, SeaQurrent, and Inyanga Tech (Inyanga Marine Energy Group).

Co-financed by Interreg North-West Europe under the 4th call for projects, SHINES is set to unlock the potential of tidal and river energy systems, an opportunity still largely untapped in the region.

With a total budget of €10M, including 60% ERDF funding (€6M), this ambitious project led by OPEN-C Foundation will span from January 2025 to December 2028.

North-West Europe (NWE) is a prime location for tidal and river energy development, thanks to its unique natural features. Specific locations – gulfs, straits, islands, inlets, and spots along large rivers – offer promising conditions. Despite its potential, tidal and river energy in NWE requires further investment to overcome political, economic, and regulatory hurdles.

SHINES will address these challenges by replicating and scaling up three innovative solutions (HydroWing, RivGen and TidalKite) through grid connections and real sea deployments in France and the Netherlands. Some of the most promising sites across the region will be developed, engaging 100 organisations in the adoption of tidal and river energy systems.

NWE’s wealth of expertise in water management, hydrodynamics, flow measurements, and innovative technologies such as HydroWing, RivGen and TidalKite provide a solid foundation for progress. SHINES will catalyze transnational collaboration, enabling the region to consolidate efforts, quantify its energy potential, and drive investments to achieve generation capacity targets.

 

The project is aligned with Europe’s Net-Zero Strategy and the Critical Raw Materials Act, contributing to the goals of 1GW of ocean energy capacity by 2030 and 40GW by 2050. Ocean energy holds the promise of creating 400,000 high-value jobs by 2050, revitalizing coastal communities with histories rooted in shipbuilding, fishing, and oil and gas industries.