A look back at WEAMEC’s mission to Scotland

In February 2025, WEAMEC led a mission to Scotland, accompanied by a delegation of researchers and innovative companies from the marine renewable energy (MRE) sector. The aim of the trip was to strengthen collaborations with Scottish stakeholders and identify new opportunities for cooperation.

A program rich in discoveries

Organized in partnership with Scottish Development International and the Scottish Government, this mission enabled participants to discover cutting-edge infrastructure and exchange ideas with experts in the field.
On the first day, the delegation was welcomed to the FloWave Ocean Energy Research Facility, a research center dedicated to advanced hydrodynamic testing, in collaboration with Wave Energy Scotland. This was an opportunity to further discussions on marine energy conversion technologies with representatives such as Cameron McNatt from Mocean Energy and David Campbell from QED Naval Ltd.

This mission is a continuation of the exchanges initiated in June 2024, when WEAMEC and Scottish Development International welcomed a Scottish delegation of researchers from the University of Edinburgh and Wave Energy Scotland to Nantes. The aim of this initiative is to establish lasting relationships between the research and innovation ecosystems of the two regions.

Heading to Aberdeen: at the heart of the energy transition

After this first stop in Edinburgh, the delegation continued its journey to the city of Aberdeen to visit the premises and facilities of Balmoral Comtec, a key player in the development of advanced solutions for offshore environments. Many thanks to David Hedley and Ian Milne for their warm welcome and valuable explanations.

Discussions then continued with Ian Crossland and Andrew Douglas from Mocean Energy, strengthening ties with companies involved in the development of wave and tidal energy technologies.
The day ended with a visit to Energy Transition Zone Ltd, the UK’s largest energy transition complex. This space dedicated to innovation and the development of clean energy represents a major opportunity for future collaboration between French and Scottish players.

A promising partnership

After several days of fruitful meetings and discussions, the delegation returned to Nantes with many prospects for cooperation. This trip to Scotland was a new step in strengthening ties between the French and Scottish marine renewable energy ecosystems.

WEAMEC warmly thanks its Scottish partners for their hospitality and for organizing this mission, in particular Scottish Development International and The Scottish Government.