Seaturns Announces Phase II of Its Full-Scale Sea Trials in Nouvelle-Aquitaine
03.11.2025
Seaturns, a Bordeaux-based startup specializing in the conversion of wave energy into clean electricity, is moving forward with Phase II of its full-scale sea trials on an operational site located within the jurisdiction of the Port of Bordeaux, off the Gironde estuary in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. This site offers optimal wave and logistical conditions, essential for testing the floater’s performance in an environment representative of future industrial deployment.
Context and Demonstration Project
The Gironde estuary site was selected for its technical and maritime characteristics, which are particularly well suited to validating the demonstrator.
Nouvelle-Aquitaine has established itself as a strategic region for the development of marine technologies and renewable energies, thanks to its diverse industrial base, strong maritime ecosystem, and recognized offshore expertise.
Supported by the Grand Port Maritime de Bordeaux (GPMB), Seaturns benefits from first-class institutional and technical assistance for the implementation of this crucial demonstration phase.
The deployment area will soon undergo comprehensive environmental and visual studies, in accordance with the requirements for obtaining the temporary occupation authorization (AOT) of the maritime domain.
Based in Bordeaux for nearly ten years, Seaturns is carrying out this project at the heart of its home region, leveraging close relationships with local partners and recognized expertise in maritime testing and energy innovation.
Seaturns recently ended its collaboration with the Open-C Foundation, as no agreement was reached regarding the testing conditions of the demonstrator at their offshore test site near Saint-Nazaire.
This decision allows the company to fully focus its efforts on the demonstration project in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and to continue developing its technology within a controlled and coherent framework.
Objectives and Outlook
The Phase II full-scale trials build on the first 1:4-scale demonstrator tested in 2023 at the IFREMER site in Brest. This new strategic stage aims to validate the floater’s dynamic behavior, continue maintenance and operation activities, and confirm the reliability of the power take-off (PTO) system under real sea conditions. The results are expected to enable the industrialization and commercial deployment of the technology by the end of 2026.
This phase represents a strategic milestone for Seaturns and for the entire European wave energy sector, demonstrating the robustness, competitiveness, and economic viability of a wave-based electricity production solution.