Seaturns Launches Phase 1 of Full-Scale Testing in Nantes Saint-Nazaire

A key new milestone for wave energy conversion technology

After six intense months of fabrication and assembly, Seaturns has reached a decisive stage in the development of its wave energy technology. The Bordeaux-based startup has completed the construction of its full-scale demonstrator and has just launched Phase 1 of its testing at the port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire, marking the transition from design to real-world implementation.

A major industrial milestone

The Seaturns demonstrator, the result of ten years of research and development, is a 42-ton steel structure, measuring 15 meters long and 6 meters in diameter, capable of delivering a nominal power of 200 kW.
Its fabrication, completed in just six months, highlights the collective commitment and technical expertise devoted to this strategic project.

“This fundamental milestone is the culmination of ten years of R&D and the hard work of a team entirely dedicated to this demonstrator. It is a tremendous achievement to finally see it full-scale. This success is also thanks to all those who have trusted us.”
— Vincent Tournerie, CEO & Founder of Seaturns

Promising initial tests at the port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire

Phase 1 of the testing has started successfully. Seaturns has validated several essential operations: launching, buoyancy tests, onboard access and safety checks, as well as disassembly and reassembly of the electrical conversion module.

In just two hours, the teams were able to carry out maintenance operations using lightweight equipment and a small crew, demonstrating the simplicity, speed, and feasibility of offshore interventions.
These results reinforce one of the project’s major objectives: significantly reducing operating costs (OPEX) through maintenance that can be carried out directly at sea.

“We have validated the safety of operations and begun to demonstrate the effectiveness of maintenance, confirming the feasibility of offshore interventions. This achievement paves the way for a more economical and robust operation of our solution.”
— Arthur Chauliac, Head of Testing at Seaturns

Looking ahead to Phase 2: offshore testing in 2026

Building on this initial success, Seaturns is already preparing Phase 2 of its tests, scheduled to take place offshore in the first quarter of 2026.
This next phase will aim to:

• Test and certify the demonstrator’s performance over at least one year,

• Validate the system’s robustness under real marine conditions,

• Assess the environmental impacts of the technology.

Carried out in a progressive and controlled manner, this testing campaign represents a crucial step towards industrialization and commercialization of the solution, expected by the end of 2026.

Key partners driving the wave energy sector

This testing phase is part of the IAS-WEC project, a winner of the i-Nov competition managed by Bpifrance and ADEME.
The project benefits from co-funding by the French government through the #France2030 program, as well as support from the France Relance plan backed by the European Union – Next Generation EU.
Seaturns thanks its major partners: MECASOUD (demonstrator fabrication), Nantes Saint-Nazaire Port (test management), and the Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique for their support.

A major step forward for renewable marine energy

By launching Phase 1 of its full-scale testing, Seaturns demonstrates the maturity of its technology and strengthens the credibility of the French wave energy sector.
This achievement realizes a decade of research and positions the company at the heart of the energy transition, with a solution capable of producing low-carbon, competitive, and sustainable electricity.

Founded in Bordeaux in 2015, Seaturns develops innovative technology to convert wave energy into electricity, actively contributing to the energy transition and the emergence of a French and European industrial sector.