Fondation OPEN-C
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersNantes, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Fondation OPEN-C firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Fondation OPEN-C
- Legal name
- Fondation OPEN-C
- Website
- https://fondation-open-c.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Fondation OPEN-C industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Marine Renewable Energy Testing Infrastructure
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Demonstration Pilots, Testbeds & Standards Development (Prototype Validation, Certification, Field Trials) (EUAMAOAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Offshore Wind Substructures & Marine Engineering (Monopiles, Jackets, Floating) (EUAMACAE), Offshore Wind & Marine Spatial Planning Regulation (EUAMANAM), Marine & Offshore Energy O&M (Offshore Wind, Platforms, Subsea Assets) (EUAEAGAO)
Keywords
Where Fondation OPEN-C is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nantes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Fondation OPEN-C business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Public Funding and Grants: Fondation OPEN-C operates as a non-profit research infrastructure funded primarily through government programmes including France 2030 (operated by ADEME), European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) through Interreg programmes, and regional government contributions from French coastal regions (Bretagne, Pays de la Loire, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Sud Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Occitanie).
- Test Site Access Fees: Technology developers pay for access to test sites to conduct offshore testing of marine renewable energy prototypes. Revenue is generated through hosting agreements for floating wind turbines, tidal turbines, wave energy converters, and hydrogen platforms at the 5 managed sites.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Fondation OPEN-C product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Fondation OPEN-C operates a network of five offshore test sites across French coastlines providing controlled real-sea testing environments for marine renewable energy prototypes, including floating wind turbines, tidal turbines, wave energy converters, and offshore hydrogen production platforms. The foundation also manages collaborative R&D projects and provides environmental monitoring, grid connection capabilities (up to 10MW), and access to European research funding networks for technology developers and research institutions.
Product overview
Fondation OPEN-C operates a network of five offshore test sites across French coastlines for marine renewable energy technologies. The portfolio includes SEM-REV (multi-technology site for floating wind, wave energy, and hydrogen), Paimpol-Bréhat (tidal energy), SEENEOH (river/estuarine hydrokinetic), Sainte-Anne du Portzic (co-operated with Ifremer), and MISTRAL (Mediterranean). A future high-power test site (TGP) is under development. Technologies tested include FLOATGEN and France Atlantique floating wind turbines, WAVEGEM and SEALHYFE hybrid platforms, SEATURNS wave converter, and various tidal turbines. R&D projects include RHODÉ (floating HVDC connections), HiPoTeSis (European test site network), SHINES (tidal/river energy), and environmental studies like PIAFF&Co and Velella. The foundation also maintains the Observatoire des Énergies de la Mer for industry tracking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- SEM-REV Test Site Multi-technology offshore test site located 20km off Le Croisic in Loire-Atlantique, covering 1km² at 32-36m depth. Supports simultaneous testing of up to 3 prototype technologies with 25km export cable providing grid connection capability (10MW) for floating wind, wave energy, tidal, and offshore hydrogen production systems.
- Paimpol-Bréhat Test Site Tidal energy test site located off Bréhat Island in Côtes d'Armor, designed for testing tidal turbines in strong tidal current conditions. Operational since 2008 with electrical connection completed 2011-2012. Now under Fondation OPEN-C concession as of September 2025.
- Sainte-Anne du Portzic Test Site Offshore test site in Finistère co-operated with Ifremer, enabling testing of floating wind, wave energy, and floating solar technologies. Offers integration with benthic monitoring, pelagic studies, and marine environmental impact assessment capabilities.
- SEENEOH Test Site Tidal and river test site located in the Garonne river downstream of Bordeaux bridge in Gironde, testing river and estuarine hydrokinetic turbines with significant tidal currents. Originally created by SEENEOH sas.
- MISTRAL Test Site The only offshore test site for marine renewable energies in the Mediterranean, located in Bouches-du-Rhône, capable of hosting floating wind turbines. Donated by Valeco to the foundation.
- TGP (Très Grande Puissance) Test Site Future test site under development dedicated to next-generation floating wind turbines with capacity from 10MW to 25MW, designed to support commercial floating wind farm deployments.
- Observatoire des Énergies de la Mer (OEM) Strategic collaborative observatory and industry intelligence tool dedicated to the French marine renewable energy sector, publishing annual reports and tracking industry metrics since 2023. Operated with Cluster Maritime Français.
Quantifiable outcome
- First floating wind turbine in France (FLOATGEN) operational since 2018
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Fondation OPEN-C
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Fondation OPEN-C technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Fondation OPEN-C partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- Chantiers de l'AtlantiquecoreFrench shipyard and industrial group. Contributing expertise in design, fabrication, integration and commissioning of offshore electrical substations (topsides and foundations) for the RHODÉ project developing floating HVDC electrical connections for deep-water offshore wind.
- France Energies MarinescoreFrench marine energy research organisation. Providing expertise in mooring design, digital twins, decision support tools for offshore installations, and environmental impact assessment for floating substation development in the RHODÉ consortium.
- GE VernovacoreGlobal energy technology company. Contributing know-how in design and construction of AC/DC electrical substations, transformers, gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), and associated control-protection systems for HVDC floating connections.
- NexanscoreCable manufacturer. Providing expertise in design, testing, qualification, manufacturing and installation of dynamic submarine cables and HVDC cable systems for floating substations in the RHODÉ project.
- RTEcoreRéseau de Transport d'Électricité, French electricity transmission system operator. Responsible for development, maintenance and operation of the public electricity transmission network, contributing to grid connection specifications and requirements for floating HVDC connections.
- SuperGrid InstitutecoreFrench research institute for HVDC transmission. Providing competencies on SF6-free insulation solutions, dielectric stress simulation for HVDC GIS design, and specific dielectric and power testing for floating substation equipment.
- FEBUS OpticsminorTechnology provider. Partner in Vigiecâble project to develop fibre optic-based monitoring solutions for dynamic submarine cable health assessment, contributing to reliability of marine renewable energy production.
- École Centrale de NantesminorEngineering school. Partner in Vigiecâble project for cable monitoring data analysis and numerical modelling of cable behavior under bio-colonisation effects.
- EDFminorHistorical operator of Paimpol-Bréhat tidal site. Partner in Vigiecâble project bringing operational experience in tidal turbine cable systems and contributing to cable health monitoring solutions.
- BiMEP (Spain)coreBiMEP (Biscay Marine Energy Platform) is a Spanish offshore test site operator. Partnered with OPEN-C through the HiPoTeSis European alliance to improve conditions for offshore wind demonstration projects, implement fast-track permitting, and develop shared infrastructure for testing floating wind turbines >10MW capacity across Europe.
- CEO - Companhia de Energia Oceânica (Portugal)corePortuguese offshore renewable energy test site operator. Active partner in HiPoTeSis consortium leading stakeholder mapping exercises and contributing expertise on test site permitting processes. Conducted mapping of 390 organisations across Atlantic coastline.
- METCentre (Norway)coreNorwegian floating wind test site operator. Partner in HiPoTeSis alliance representing the North Sea region perspective on test infrastructure needs and contributing to European standardisation efforts for floating wind technologies.
- PLOCAN - Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias (Spain)coreSpanish oceanic platform operator. Part of HiPoTeSis consortium bringing Mediterranean/Atlantic island testing capabilities and contributing to European vision for high-power floating offshore wind test infrastructure development.
- Pôle Mer Bretagne AtlantiquemajorAtlantic Maritime Cluster. Supporting OPEN-C activities including OPEN SEA demo AMI, low-emission vessel project, and regional coordination for offshore testing development in Brittany-Atlantic region.
- MAURICminorMaritime innovation cluster. Partner in project to design and operate low-emission offshore maintenance vessel for OPEN-C test site operations, supported by ADEME.
- Cluster Maritime FrançaismajorFrench maritime industry cluster. OPEN-C maintains joint exhibition presence at Euromaritime and other events; cluster hosts Observatory of Marine Energies data and collaborative publications with OPEN-C.
- Centrale NantescoreÉcole Centrale de Nantes engineering school. Original creator of SEM-REV (2007). Contributing research capabilities, digital twin development, and academic expertise to R&D projects including Velella and ongoing environmental monitoring at SEM-REV.
- ValecocoreFrench renewable energy company and founder of OPEN-C Foundation. Donated MISTRAL Mediterranean test site to the foundation, marking crucial step in shared commitment to floating wind development in the Mediterranean.
- IfremercoreFrench National Research Institute for Ocean Science. Co-operating Sainte-Anne du Portzic test site with OPEN-C and contributing expertise in benthic monitoring, pelagic studies, and marine environmental impact assessment for floating wind and wave energy projects.
- ENSTA BretagneminorFrench engineering school. Partner in Velella project contributing to eco-design approach and life cycle analysis of floating wind turbine technologies.
- IVM TechnologiesminorTechnology company. Partner in Velella project for development of innovative mooring line materials and underwater surveillance methods for floating wind applications.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Fondation OPEN-C competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wave Hub: UK wave energy test site off Cornwall. Offers grid-connected subsea infrastructure for prototype wave energy converters, directly competing with OPEN-C's wave energy testing at Sainte-Anne du Portzic.
- European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC): UK-based ocean energy test facility in Orkney offering grid-connected berths for wave and tidal devices. Long-established global reference point for marine renewable testing, closely aligned with OPEN-C's SEM-REV / Paimpol-Bréhat services.
- DanWEC (Danish Wave Energy Centre): Danish test facility for wave energy converters. Provides comparable offshore testing infrastructure for marine renewable developers in Northern Europe, overlapping with OPEN-C's wave and tidal testing offerings.
- Smart Bay Ireland: Irish marine test site with subsea cable and offshore platform capabilities. Connected to OPEN-C through the SHINES tidal/river energy project; offers comparable prototype validation infrastructure in Northwest Europe.
- PLOCAN (Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias): Spanish oceanic platform test site and HiPoTeSis partner. Offers comparable offshore testing infrastructure for marine renewable energy with research, observation, and prototype validation capabilities.
- METCentre (Marine Energy Test Centre): Norwegian floating wind test site operator and HiPoTeSis partner. Directly competes in the North Sea segment of the European floating wind testing market with dedicated berths for prototype turbines.
- BiMEP (Biscay Marine Energy Platform): Spanish offshore test site operator in the Bay of Biscay, partnered with OPEN-C through HiPoTeSis. Directly competes for European floating wind testing contracts (>10MW) and offers comparable grid-connected offshore infrastructure.
- Wave Energy Centre (CEO - Companhia de Energia Oceânica): Portuguese offshore renewable energy test site operator and HiPoTeSis consortium partner. Provides wave and floating wind testing capacity along the Atlantic Iberian coast, directly comparable to OPEN-C's Atlantic sites.
Others
- Ocean Energy Europe: European industry association for ocean energy. Marlène Kiersnowski (OPEN-C Director for Paimpol/SEENEOH) sits on its board. Ecosystem participant that shapes policy and visibility for test site operators rather than competing for testing contracts.
- BVG Associates: UK-based consultancy specialised in marine renewable energy strategy and economic analysis. Adjacent to OPEN-C as an ecosystem participant rather than a direct test site competitor — provides sector intelligence that complements testbed operators.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Fondation OPEN-C social profiles
Digital presenceFondation OPEN-C compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Fondation OPEN-C financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Fondation OPEN-C leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Fondation OPEN-C funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Fondation OPEN-C M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Fondation OPEN-C
What does Fondation OPEN-C do?
Fondation OPEN-C operates a network of five offshore test sites across French coastlines providing controlled real-sea testing environments for marine renewable energy prototypes, including floating wind turbines, tidal turbines, wave energy converters, and offshore hydrogen production platforms. The foundation also manages collaborative R&D projects and provides environmental monitoring, grid connection capabilities (up to 10MW), and access to European research funding networks for technology developers and research institutions.
Is Fondation OPEN-C a public or private company?
Fondation OPEN-C is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Fondation OPEN-C founded?
Fondation OPEN-C was founded in 2023. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Fondation OPEN-C based?
Fondation OPEN-C is headquartered in Nantes, France, in the Europe region.
How does Fondation OPEN-C make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Public Funding and Grants are the primary driver. The others are test Site Access Fees.
Who are Fondation OPEN-C's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wave Hub, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), DanWEC (Danish Wave Energy Centre), Smart Bay Ireland, PLOCAN (Plataforma Oceánica de Canarias), METCentre (Marine Energy Test Centre), BiMEP (Biscay Marine Energy Platform) and Wave Energy Centre (CEO - Companhia de Energia Oceânica). Others are Ocean Energy Europe and BVG Associates.
Does Fondation OPEN-C have an API?
No public API is recorded for Fondation OPEN-C.
What industry is Fondation OPEN-C in?
Fondation OPEN-C's product category is Marine Renewable Energy Testing Infrastructure. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAOAL, Demonstration Pilots, Testbeds & Standards Development (Prototype Validation, Certification, Field Trials), with a secondary code of EUAMACAE, Offshore Wind Substructures & Marine Engineering (Monopiles, Jackets, Floating). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.