Skip to content

Interreg’s biggest ever project approved

16/10/2019

TIGER Atlantis 1

 

We’re proud to announce that France (Channel) England has approved the biggest project across all Interreg programmes, ever!

TIGER is a game-changing project for the European tidal stream energy sector that will see turbines submerged offshore to harness the energy of tidal currents which is then converted into electricity.

TIGER (The Tidal Stream Industry Energiser Project) is an ambitious €46.8m project, of which €28m (69%) is ERDF via the programme’s funding category for low carbon technologies.

The project aims to drive the growth of tidal stream energy by installing up to 8 MW of new tidal capacity at sites in and around the Channel region, thus driving innovation and the development of new products and services.

TIGER will make a stronger, more cost-effective case for tidal stream to become part of the energy mix in the UK and France by harnessing economies of scale via volume manufacturing and multi-device deployments. Coastal communities used as ports of deployment will benefit from knock-on investment and job creation.

The total theoretical tidal energy capacity in the Channel region is nearly 4 GW, enough to power up to three million homes. Proving that tidal energy generation can be cost-effective on a large scale could open the door for it to become the renewable energy of choice in coastal locations with strong tidal currents globally, helping the growth of clean, green energy generation and tackling the climate emergency.

Led by the UK’s Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, from its office in Hayle, Cornwall, TIGER comprises 19 partners from across the UK and France spanning turbine developers, ocean energy demonstration sites, research organisations, as well local and regional authorities.

Partners are meeting today (October 16) to kick start the project.

Carolyn Reid, Programme Manager for Interreg France (Channel) England Programme, said: 

 “This is a hugely ambitious project that will demonstrate the benefits of harnessing tidal energy on a large scale. The long-term aim is to support the industry to reduce generating costs of tidal stream energy from the existing 300€ MW/h to 150€ MW/h by 2025 and increase uptake. There is an EU target to reach 100€/MWh by 2030.

“The project has a clear link to the programme objective to increase the development and uptake of existing or new low-carbon technologies in sectors that have the highest potential for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. 

“TIGER is a shining example of how European funding has enabled collaboration between organisations in the UK and France that may otherwise never have happened, and in this case could have a massive impact on reducing the carbon footprint beyond the lifetime of the project, and beyond the Channel area.”

Dr Stephen Wyatt, Research & Innovation Director for ORE Catapult, said:

“We are delighted to be spearheading this game-changing tidal energy project.  Developing successful UK and European collaborations is important for the UK tidal energy industry and will help accelerate the economic, environmental and societal benefits which can be derived from this emerging sector.  

“This project brings together multiple organisations from across the UK and French supply chains to work towards validating the pathway to commercialisation, ensuring that sustainable, predictable and affordable tidal electricity plays a role our future energy mix as we tackle the global climate emergency.”

The project is the largest ever to be approved not only by the France (Channel) England Programme but by any Interreg programme. There are 75 EU-funded Interreg programmes in the current programming period 2014-2020.

For interviews or to find out more about TIGER or the Interreg France (Channel) England Programme, please email interregv@norfolk.gov.uk

TIGER Project Partners

UK:

  • Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, Cornwall
  • University of Exeter, Cornwall and Devon
  • University of Plymouth, Devon
  • University of Manchester, Manchester
  • Cambrian Offshore South West, Cornwall
  • TRIDENT Renewable Energy Systems, Isle of Wight
  • Orbital Marine Power, Edinburgh
  • European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Orkney

France:

  • EDF
  • Normandie Hydroliennes
  • SEENEOH
  • Bretagne Developpement Innovation
  • CMN (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie)
  • Hydroquest
  • MorbihanHydroEnergies SASU
  • University of Caen Normandy
  • University Le Havre Normandy
  • University Bretagne Sud

Sweden:

  • Minesto AB

 

About the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

ORE Catapult was established in 2013 by the UK Government and is part of a network of Catapults set up by Innovate UK in high growth industries. It is the UK’s leading innovation centre for offshore renewable energy.

Independent and trusted, with a unique combination of world-leading test and demonstration facilities and engineering and research expertise, ORE Catapult convenes the sector and delivers applied research, accelerating technology development, reducing risk and cost and enhancing UK-wide economic growth.

Active throughout the UK, ORE Catapult has operations in Glasgow, Blyth, Levenmouth, Aberdeen, Hull, the South West and Wales and operates a collaborative research partnership in China.

https://ore.catapult.org.uk/