France Signals Tidal Energy Industrialization with Major 2030 Commercial Tender
Paris, Sunday, 15 February 2026.
France has officially committed to industrializing its tidal energy sector by embedding a commercial tender for 250 MW into its newly published energy strategy, with awards scheduled by 2030. This strategic move marks a pivotal transition for tidal technology, shifting it from experimental pilot projects to scalable infrastructure assets capable of contributing to national energy sovereignty. When combined with the United Kingdom’s recent 140 MW allocation, this development solidifies Europe’s position as the global leader in marine energy commercialization. For international investors and energy executives, this tender provides the long-awaited market visibility and regulatory certainty needed to unlock private capital, signaling that the supply chain is maturing and ready for mass manufacturing and large-scale deployment.
A Unified European Market
The inclusion of this tender within the ‘Programmation Pluriannuelle de l’Energie’ (PPE3), which was officially adopted by decree on 13 February 2026 following its unveiling by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu earlier in the week, represents the final regulatory component required to unlock the sector’s potential [1][2]. By coordinating this effort with the United Kingdom’s recent support, the two nations are effectively creating a combined pipeline of 390 MW of tidal capacity [1]. This volume is substantial enough to justify the construction of dedicated manufacturing lines, moving the industry beyond the pre-commercial “valley of death” and positioning Europe as the first continent to fully industrialize tidal energy [1].
From Pilot Projects to Industrial Reality
The technology underpinning this tender has been maturing for over a decade, with the first wave of tidal pilot farms beginning operations between 2015 and 2016 across Scotland, the Netherlands, and France [1]. Ten years of operational data have convinced French authorities that the hardware is ready for mass deployment, prompting Minister of Economy Roland Lescure to emphasize the need for diverse renewable sources like tidal, which offer distinct advantages in construction flexibility compared to other energy forms [2]. Several European industry leaders have been awaiting this opportunity to expand beyond pilot schemes to an industrial scale [1].
Integration into the 2035 Roadmap
The tidal tender is part of a much broader recalibration of France’s energy mix outlined in the PPE3. The roadmap aims to increase the share of decarbonized energy consumption from 42% in 2023 to 60% by 2030 [2]. While nuclear power remains the backbone of this strategy—with production targets set between 380 and 420 TWh for the 2030-2035 period—the government is actively diversifying its renewable portfolio to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, which currently cost the nation 60 billion euros annually [2].
Strengthening the European Supply Chain
Beyond the capacity figures, the industrialization of tidal energy is a calculated economic play. The large-scale deployment facilitated by these tenders is designed to kick-start mass manufacturing and standardization, which are prerequisites for cost reduction [1]. Because ocean energy machines are largely developed, built, and assembled within Europe, the sector promises to keep the economic value chain—and the associated hundreds of thousands of jobs—local [1]. This initiative ensures that the transition to a decarbonized energy supply not only meets climate goals but also supports reindustrialization efforts across the continent.