As the Earth’s stocks of fossil fuels diminish, the rising cost of a barrel of oil makes exploitation of less easily accessible reserves more economically viable.

  Major projects involving exploration and exploitation of offshore and ultra deep-water oil reserves are coming online in the midst of fierce competition.  As the need to diversify our energy sources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions grows, the sea appears as a source of renewable energy worth developing.  

These two types of response to our energy requirements call on similar technology.  As a result, certain skills evolved for the offshore oil industry in Brittany can be developed for use in the field of renewable energy.

In the area of oil production, the construction by DCN of two SEDCO offshore platforms has brought recognition of Brittany’s expertise.  The dynamic Haliod project, which combines the offshore skills of companies, research centres and selective HE institution laboratories in Brest, is extending its influence throughout Brittany and involving other partner members of the Maritime Cluster. 

The development of marine energy in Brittany is based on the significant natural potential for power generation to be found the length of its coastline in the form of wind, waves and tide, as well as on the presence of research institutes and companies specialising in oceanography and marine engineering and of numerous manufacturers of maritime industry components.  Given these strengths, Brittany is a model region for the development of these new industries in line with environmental constraints and in concert with other sea users.   

Officially recognised project