In March 2025, the Offshore Proof consortium gathered in Lille for our very first in-person partner meeting. This marked the official launch of this ambitious new initiative within the Interreg North-West Europe programme. Directly after the Interreg NWE seminar for newly approved projects, we moved a few streets to dive into the details of our shared mission: unlocking the full potential of offshore renewable energy in North-West Europe.
One Sea, One Goal: from barriers to breakthroughs
The North Sea and surrounding sea areas are full of untapped energy sources – from waves and tides to offshore solar. Yet many promising solutions hit the same bottleneck: they never progress beyond the prototype stage due to the lack of accredited offshore test facilities and clear certification routes.
That is exactly the challenge Offshore Proof is tackling. We do not see this as a roadblock, but as an opportunity. With the right infrastructure, support, and collaboration, North-West Europe can become a global leader in testing, validating, and scaling up offshore innovations that are crucial for a sustainable energy supply.
Our approach: Offshore Proof
Over the next four years, seven partners – ranging from test facilities and universities to innovation clusters and technical experts – will work together on a network of accredited Renewable Energy (Offshore) Test Laboratories (RETLS). This will bring test locations closer to international IEC standards and help innovators gain quicker access to the market.
A strong start in Lille
The meeting in Lille laid the foundation for our collaboration. We discussed the project planning, budgets, and the steps each test site will take towards IECRE acceptance. This status ensures that test results are recognised worldwide, boosting trust and investment in new offshore technologies.
Each partner gave a short pitch about their strengths and ambitions – from Campus@Sea’s coordination and business support, to Fraunhofer IFAM’s advanced offshore research station at Helgoland, the Blue Accelerator demonstration hub in Belgium, the Offshore Test Site in the Netherlands, and Open-C’s tidal test site at Paimpol-Bréhat.
We also discussed the role of Communities of Practice (CoPs), based on the successful North Sea model, to strengthen cooperation with regional stakeholders.
What’s next?
We are only at the beginning, but the energy, alignment, and shared ambition in Lille made it clear that Offshore Proof is ready to make an impact. Our efforts will not only benefit technology developers and test facilities, but also policymakers, investors, and coastal communities across the region.
👉 Stay tuned as we turn this vision into reality – and show what Europe can achieve offshore.
https://offshoreproof.nweurope.eu/
Campus@Sea
Hellingweg 9c
2583 DZ DEN HAAG
info@campusatsea.nl