FRANCE

CALL FOR PROJECTS: MARINE RENEWABLE ENERGIES INSTITUTE FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION 2015
France Energies Marines, in cooperation with the National Research Agency, launched 8 successfully financed collaborative MRE R&D projects in 2015 (€3 million state financing). 8 additional projects have been accepted for financing and will be launched in 2017. Below is a brief listing of the treated subjects in 2016:

BENTHOSCOPE2 - understanding and monitoring of MRE impacts on the benthic compartment via a measurement platform dedicated to passive acoustics;

EOLINK - proof of concept for an innovative floating wind generator;

HYD2M - Raz Blanchard hydrodynamics: measurements and modelling;

INDUSCOL - instrumentation and durability of glued multi-material structures for MRE systems;

PHYSIC - sediment transport processes in the presence of intense currents;

THYMOTE - tidal turbulence: modelling, field observations and tank experiments;

TROPHIK - ecosystem approach of MRE: modelling the role of offshore wind farms in modifying the functioning of coastal food webs and cumulative impacts;

OMDYN - dynamic cable for marine energy.

MET-CERTIFIED
In July 2016, the European Interreg 2 Seas monitoring committee accepted the €5.6 million the financing of the MET-CERTIFIED project for the development of international standards and certification systems for marine renewable energies.

MET-CERTIFIED aims to promote the development of projects for the recovery of marine energies that can be covered by an insurance contract, and therefore be financed. This requires the development of internationally recognized standards and certification systems, as well as the testing and verification of technologies according to standards for marine energy converters.

The project is conducted within the framework of a European public-private partnership. Ifremer in France contributes to the project through its Behaviour of Offshore Structures laboratory, responsible for “experimental testing” in the project.

MARINET2
In continuation of the MARINET project, MARINET2 has been approved funding through the Horizon 2020. This new project is due to start in early 2017 and will run for 4.5 years. While activities proposed under MARINET2 will follow the same formula as in MARINET, balancing networking/joint research/ and transnational access, the consortium and scope of work are expanded to include 39 partners in 13 countries with 57 facilities. More information available on: www.marinet2.eu

THeoRem
Ifremer and ECN (Ecole Centrale de Nantes) have joined efforts to set-up a GIS named THeoRem in order to create a National Research Infrastructure related to hydrodynamic testing facilities. The objectives of THeoRem are:

• to coordinate activities of the two major French research centres operating hydrodynamic testing facilities for advanced research programmes in hydrodynamics at the European level;
   
• to facilitate the development of collaborative projects;
   
• to develop a common strategy in regards to the development, and associated investments, of the testing facilities; and
   
• to animate the industrial and scientific communities using these facilities (MRE, Oil&Gas, Shipbuilding, etc.).

MARINERG-I
The Marinerg-I project, submitted in response to the INFRADEV-02-2016 “Preparatory Phase and support to early phase of ESFRI projects” was accepted for funding in September 2016 and will start early in 2017. This project, led by the MaREI Centre at University College Cork (UCC) in Ireland, aims at preparing a proposal for a European Research Infrastructure supporting the development of Marine Renewable Energy that could be submitted to the next ESFRI call around 2019. Ifremer, on behalf of THeoRem, is the French partner in the consortium.