France Energies Marines

Created on a public-private partnership, the Institute of Excellence, France Energies Marines, accredited by the State within the framework of the Investments for the future, will be based in Brest. It brings together 54 partners structured around a large consortium of international businesses such as Areva, STX, Alstrom as well as higher education and research organizations such as IFREMER, ENSTA and the University of Western Brittany. It has a EUR 142 million budget spread over ten years with the State providing EUR 43 million as part of the Investments for the future program.

The purpose of France Energies Marines is to develop a technological offer in regard to four types of marine energy: offshore wind energy, marine current energy, wave energy and ocean thermal energy. Its activity will focus on three main areas: RME research and development, study sites and demonstrator validations, and resource and training centers. Today, renewable marine energy and its energy potential are at the heart of global issues. In France, RMEs should contribute to the goal of 22% renewable energy set for 2020. Across the whole of Europe, RMEs represent a pool of 150,000 jobs as per estimates.