Why Offshore Proof matters
A shared challenge at sea
All along the coasts of Europe, people are working hard to develop new solutions to harness the energy of the sea. But every region faces different conditions—strong tides in the Channel, high waves in the Atlantic, and busy shipping lanes in the shallow North Sea. What they all have in common? A big ambition to move toward clean, reliable energy generated at sea. The problem? Testing new technologies out at sea is risky and expensive—and there’s few places to safely do it under real conditions. That’s where Offshore Proof comes in.
The missing piece: certification
Imagine building a new kind of offshore energy device—like a tidal turbine, a wave energy convertor or offshore solar system—but having nowhere to prove it works safely and reliably. That’s the reality today. Without proper certification, investors and insurers hesitate and regulators are slow to give the green light. Offshore Proof wants to change that—by bringing certification closer to where innovation is happening.
The Offshore Proof solution
Offshore Proof is setting up a network of test sites across Northwest Europe, where innovative technologies can be tested, improved, and certified under real sea conditions. Each site focuses on what it does best—whether it’s waves, tides, or floating solar. With common standards, mutual recognition of test results, and strong industry collaboration, the project builds a foundation for safe, scalable offshore energy—backed by training, communities of practice, and investor-ready validation.
What we do and how we do it
Work Package 1: Building confidence in innovative Offshore Renewable Energy technologies
WP1 focuses on building confidence and securing active support from key regional stakeholders in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany for the adoption of innovative Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) technologies. This includes standalone projects and Multi-Use (MU) applications within offshore wind farms.
Work Package 2: A network of accredited offshore test service providers .
The goal of this work package is to build a network of accredited offshore test service providers in NWE, open for more offshore test providers pursue accreditation and to join this network in the future. This network is consequently well equiped to fast-track the development of innovative offshore renewable energy technologies, to be implemented in stand-alone or in multi-use (with offshore wind) projects.
Work Package 3 (WP3): Capacity building, training & education.
This WP aims to develop an online onboarding environment for various target groups, enhancing knowledge and skills in offshore renewable energy technologies. It will support customized learning journeys, course assignments, progress tracking, certification and qualitative evaluation of course effectiveness. At least 12 courses will be created to educate and upskill over 300 stakeholders, including students and industry professionals.
The Sounding Board will help shape course content, ensuring training meets diverse audience needs.
A needs assessment will identify key training requirements across France, Belgium, the Netherlands,
and Germany, informing course development.