The SHINES Project: Advancing Hydrokinetic Energy Innovations in Northwest Europe

The SHINES project (Showcasing Hydrokinetic energy Innovations for Northwest European Energy Sovereignty) has launched, bringing together 14 partners from France, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany to scale up tidal and river energy deployment.

With €10 million in funding, 60% covered by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the project will run from January 2025 to December 2028 under the leadership of the OPEN-C Foundation.

Addressing Energy Potential in North-West Europe

According to Inyanga Marine Energy Group, North-West Europe (NWE) has potential for tidal and river energy, with suitable locations including gulfs, straits, inlets, islands, and major rivers.

Expanding Hydrokinetic Technologies

SHINES aims to tackle these barriers by expanding three hydrokinetic technologies: HydroWing, RivGen, and TidalKite, through real-sea deployments in France and the Netherlands, alongside grid integration. The project is said to also engage 100 organizations in adopting tidal and river energy solutions.

Leading the Way in Tidal Energy Deployment

As part of the project, Inyanga will design, construct, and install a 600 kW HydroWing tidal turbine at the Paimpol-Bréhat test site in France. Additionally, the company will handle offshore operations for the SeaQurrent TidalKite device at the same site.

Supporting EU Targets and Initiatives

SHINES is said to build on NWE’s expertise in water management, hydrodynamics, and flow measurement, supporting the European Union’s Net-Zero Strategy and Critical Raw Materials Act.

Future Outlook and Collaboration

The initiative aligns with EU targets to deploy 1 GW of ocean energy capacity by 2030 and 40 GW by 2050, a sector expected to generate 400,000 jobs by 2050, Inyanga Marine Energy noted. SHINES project partners include a diverse range of organizations dedicated to advancing hydrokinetic energy solutions.

Expanding Operations in the UK

In December 2024, the UK-based tidal energy developer, Inyanga Marine Energy Group unveiled the design of its 20 MW HydroWing tidal energy project, set to be deployed at the Morlais tidal energy site in Wales. In January 2024, Inyanga Marine Energy Group opened a new office in Wales to support the development of the 10 MW HydroWing tidal stream energy project at Morlais, with deployment scheduled for 2027.