At the end of May, Bluespring, coordinator of the Offshore For Sure project, visited several demonstration sites across the South of the Netherlands to see first-hand the progress being made by project partners in advancing innovative offshore renewable energy technologies.

Wave Energy development at Rometal
The tour began at Rometal, manufacturing partner of Dutch Wave Power, where work is underway on the subframe that will support the wave energy converter's power take-off system. This important component forms part of the ongoing development of next-generation wave energy technology aimed at harnessing the power of the sea.

Offshore energy storage at Plant one
The next stop was Plant One, where FLASC is assembling key subsystems of its hydro-pneumatic offshore energy storage solution. Designed to improve the reliability and integration of offshore renewable energy, the technology represents an innovative approach to storing energy generated at sea.

Tidal energy legacy and future at the Eastern Scheldt barrier
The visit then moved to iconic tophuis the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier, a site with a rich history in tidal energy innovation. Once home to the world's first and largest dam-integrated tidal stream power plant, operated by Tocardo, the site continues to play an important role in the sector's development. Today, seven years of operational data collected from the installation are being used to develop a Digital Twin at Innovatiepunt De KAAP in Vlissingen. This digital model will support performance optimisation and predictive maintenance strategies for future tidal energy projects.

Water2Energy is preparing for the redeployment of its pitch-controlled vertical-axis tidal turbine, which is scheduled to return to the water later in 2026. The project marks another important step in demonstrating the potential of tidal energy technologies in real-world operating conditions.

Smart maintenance and Digital Twins
The visit concluded with the official launch of the Smart Maintenance Control Room, a new learning laboratory where Digital Twins of energy and industrial assets can be monitored, analysed, and controlled in real time. The facility will support innovation in smart operations and maintenance, helping to improve the efficiency and reliability of offshore renewable energy systems

Powering the future of offshore energy together
The visit highlighted the significant progress being made across the Offshore For Sure consortium, with partners developing solutions spanning wave energy, tidal energy, offshore energy storage, digital technologies, and smart maintenance systems. Together, these innovations are helping to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable offshore energy future.

See it in action
Want to see and hear the stories behind these technologies for yourself? Join the Offshore For Sure excursion on Thursday 8 October, organised after ICOE OEE 2026 and visit several of these pioneering demonstration sites firsthand.

Watch the video to get an impression beforehand!