Seaturns Ready to Scale Up

From wave motion to electricity: technology validated at sea on Ifremer’s test site

A vast, untapped global energy potential

Wave energy remains one of the largest untapped opportunities in the renewable energy sector. It is estimated that wave power could cover up to 10% of the world’s electricity demand. This sustainable, reliable, and low-impact energy source is a promising solution to the global energy transition.

18 months of intensive sea trials confirm robustness

Seaturns has developed an innovative wave energy converter that transforms wave motion into electricity. The system is based on a cylindrical floating device, anchored by a patented mooring solution that transforms the horizontal movement of waves into a pitching motion.

Inside the floater, a water pendulum and air chambers create an airflow that drives a turbine coupled to an alternator, generating clean electricity from ocean waves.

Real-life sea trials on Ifremer’s test site

In October 2023, Seaturns deployed a 1:4 scale prototype (3 meters long and 1.5 meters in diameter) at the Sainte-Anne du Portzic test site, located at the entrance to Brest harbor and managed by Ifremer. This deployment placed the system in real marine conditions for performance and resilience testing.

Two test phases were carried out:

• An initial phase with a simplified system to observe floater dynamics,

• A second phase with a working air turbine, producing electricity exported to shore via a subsea cable.

Multiple sensors were used to monitor wave action, wind, tidal current, as well as floater motion, anchor line tension, and power output, enabling detailed performance analysis in irregular sea states.

“The prototype withstood harsh marine conditions, including storm Ciarán, which brought waves equivalent to 15 meters at full scale — a powerful demonstration of its resilience.”

Designed for simplicity and performance at sea

The prototype’s development was guided by five key pillars:

• A rational design for optimal integration at sea,

• Optimized manufacturing to reduce production costs,

• Simplified installation for easier deployment,

• Easy maintenance for efficient long-term operation,

• Minimal environmental impact compared to fossil energy solutions.

This approach ensures significant cost advantages compared to competing technologies and enables efficient large-scale deployment.

Next milestone: full-scale trials at SEM-REV in 2025

Building on the success of the initial trials, Seaturns is now preparing for full-scale testing in 2025 at the SEM-REV site, a marine energy research facility in the Pays de la Loire region, managed by the OPEN-C Foundation.

These real-world offshore trials will be a decisive step in confirming the technology’s viability under operational conditions.

About Seaturns

Founded in 2015 in Bordeaux by Vincent Tournerie, Seaturns is developing an innovative and cost-effective wave energy solution. Its patented technology delivers strong performance, simplifies offshore operations, and reduces energy generation costs. Seaturns is positioning itself as a global leader in wave energy systems, contributing to the clean energy transition by tapping into the immense power of the ocean.