Foil-o-Écologie

Issue

In the face of climate change, rising societal urgency (soaring prices), and the scheduled depletion of fossil fuel resources, the 21st century has an urgent and massive need for renewable energy (RE). Whether willingly or reluctantly, these energy sources are now being deployed. However, tidal energy, which has the advantage of being abundant, *predictable, and minimally intermittent, is still missing from the equation. The reason? Current technologies are unsatisfactory: relatively low productivity and costly operating conditions.

*These advantages are essential for stabilizing the electrical grid, particularly given the increasing demand from electric vehicles.

Solution

We offer a unique, patented tidal energy system inspired by nature, utilizing oscillating fins (called foils) to generate green, abundant, and reliable energy.

Added Value

Nature’s efficiency has been well understood for some time. Over the past 20 years, multiple attempts at oscillating foil technology have failed due to two main shortcomings: degradation of energy efficiency (due to imprecise bio-inspiration and lack of biomimicry) and system fragility (lack of robustness).

Beyond the inherent advantages of oscillating foil technology (high efficiency, low environmental impact, operational benefits), the qualities of the FoE system (preserved energy potential, compactness, robustness, parametric adjustability, and efficiency) surpass previous technological attempts.

Market

More than 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered by oceans, hence the term "energy ocean."

The river tidal energy market is estimated at €65 billion, while the coastal tidal energy market is valued at €110 billion. According to Ocean Energy Europe, ocean energy could create 400,000 jobs and provide 100 GW by 2050, equating to 10% of Europe’s current electricity consumption.

(Source: TIGER report)

Business Model

• River Tidal Energy: Production and commercialization of hydroturbines (4 kW, 10 kW, 40 kW) for local governments or industries looking to reduce electricity costs and transition to greener operations.
• Coastal Tidal Energy: Deployment of tidal farms (2 to 20 MW) and resale of electricity at guaranteed feed-in tariffs for government entities near significant maritime resources.
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Competition & Barriers to Entry

As a relatively new market, tidal energy has seen numerous emerging projects—some already in early commercial stages—mainly in the UK and France. All of these projects rely on rotating blade technology (propellers or rotors).

The regulatory landscape for tidal energy is evolving rapidly (legislation, negotiation of feed-in tariffs). Notably, two projects off the coast of Normandy received €51M in European funding at the end of 2024, and tidal energy is included in PPE 3 (France’s Multi-Year Energy Plan) with tenders for 250 MW planned by 2030. This demonstrates strong governmental interest in the sector.

Team

• Francis REY (CTO): Project inventor and initiator, PhD in Civil and Coastal Engineering. Over 20 years of experience leading industrial and urban development projects, including project management, cost estimation, and oversight.
• Damien Blanc Lalande (CFO): INSA-trained engineer and CFO for various SMEs and groups involved in innovation (SATT). Experienced in fundraising.
• Pierre-Alain Barbat (CBO): Graduate of Strasbourg Business School, financial analyst, and freelance business developer in the renewable energy sector.
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Funding Needs

The monofoil proof-of-concept (PoC) prototype is currently undergoing real-world testing. Intellectual property is valued at $15M.

We are seeking to raise €200-250K to finalize the 4 kW bi-foil prototype ahead of pre-industrialization. The Normandy Region supports our project (matching our equity contribution) under the France 2030 funding program.