5 companies innovating in marine renewable energy (MRE) in Nantes Saint-Nazaire
Farwind develops innovative wind propulsion solutions
A spin-off from Centrale Nantes, Farwind develops innovative wind propulsion solutions aimed at accelerating the decarbonization of maritime transport. The company designs and manufactures Flettner rotor sails: vertical cylinders rotating around their axis that convert wind energy into propulsive force through the Magnus effect. These systems significantly reduce fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions from merchant ships.
Wind propulsion is the backbone of Farwind, with a strong industrial ambition in the design, manufacturing, and deployment of very high-power rotors to equip both existing and new vessels. This technology meets the immediate need of the maritime sector to reduce its carbon footprint through mature solutions compatible with commercial operations.
In this context, Farwind Energy is developing the concept of energy ships, based on the same wind propulsion logic. These vessels will be equipped with underwater turbines capable of converting the kinetic energy of movement into electricity. The energy produced is then stored onboard in batteries or converted into energy molecules such as hydrogen (via water electrolysis), and then into methanol or ammonia by combining it with carbon dioxide or nitrogen.
Farwind currently employs around twenty people in Nantes and is part of an industrial dynamic aiming to make wind a major lever for energy transition in maritime transport and decarbonized energy production at sea.
Greenov reduces the environmental impact of maritime activities
Founded in 2021 by Damien Demoor, Greenov is a “mission-driven company” incubated at Centrale Nantes, developing innovative solutions to reduce the environmental impact of maritime activities. Its core innovation focuses on tackling underwater noise pollution, a growing issue linked to the expansion of port works and offshore wind farms, which impact marine life. In 2025, Greenov created a subsidiary called Sealence, dedicated to its underwater noise reduction activities.
Its innovation? Greenov offers an alternative to traditional bubble curtains, currently used but costly, energy-intensive, and sometimes ineffective offshore (due to currents and swell dispersing bubbles). Sealence developed SubSea Quieter, a patented system based on membrane panels filled with a thin layer of air, forming a physical barrier against sound waves. This modular system (in curtain form or as a “sock” around piles) is five times cheaper and uses 99% less air than bubble curtains, while significantly improving noise attenuation.
Already awarded and supported by the European EIC Accelerator program with €2.5 million, Sealence tested a first prototype in Saint-Nazaire in 2024. The next step is deployment in real offshore foundation works. Supported by industry players, this innovation could become a standard for reconciling maritime infrastructure development with ecosystem preservation.
Alka Marine operates custom vessels for supplying offshore wind farms
Founded in 2020, Alka Marine is a French shipowner specializing in marine energy support. Based in Saint-Nazaire (Montoir-de-Bretagne) since the commissioning of France’s first offshore wind farm, the company also operates in Versailles. It manages a fleet of five French-flagged vessels to meet offshore wind farm needs: the Alma Kappa (anchor handling tug), Alka Bullshark and Alka Bullseye (two 12-passenger crew transfer vessels), Alka Largo (passenger transport vessel with capacity for 21 people), and Coastal Aurora (a 27-meter multicat). Alka Marine currently operates a vessel for France’s second offshore wind farm off the island of Yeu.
Alka Marine employs around thirty people and also offers integrated solutions for complex challenges, while developing international maritime services, particularly in West Africa.
AVS PipeFit collaborates with Chantiers de l’Atlantique for a decarbonized maritime industry
Established in Saint-Nazaire for nearly three years, AVS PipeFit is a Lithuanian shipbuilding and repair company offering turnkey solutions. It specializes in the manufacturing and installation of piping systems and steel structures for the naval sector, with strong expertise in defense, cruise ships, and LNG projects.
In Saint-Nazaire, AVS PipeFit mobilizes up to 100 specialists on site, including pipefitters, welders, engineers, and other highly skilled professionals across multiple disciplines. The company applies high sustainability standards: its prefabrication workshops are increasingly powered by renewable energy, while continuous investment in advanced low-emission technologies helps reduce its carbon footprint, reflecting a strong commitment to minimizing environmental impact.
At the forefront of maritime transition, AVS PipeFit contributes to several major sustainability programs. With nearly 600 employees in Europe and €49 million in revenue in 2025 (+33% year-on-year), the company plays an active role in large-scale shipbuilding projects at Chantiers de l’Atlantique. It is involved in the construction of MSC World Asia, one of the most advanced LNG-powered cruise ships, as well as the Orient Express Corinthian, set to become the largest sailing vessel ever built and a benchmark in large-scale wind propulsion. It also contributes to the superyacht Luminara, illustrating evolving energy standards in the maritime sector.
D-Ice Engineering
The deep tech company D-Ice Engineering, founded in Nantes in 2015 by Sofien Kerkeni, a former Sirehna employee, specifically targets vessels carrying out complex offshore operations or aiming to significantly reduce fuel consumption—particularly in offshore wind and wind propulsion. D-Ice develops tools to help ships optimize their routes at sea through advanced routing systems. With 46 employees today, the company works with forward-thinking shipowners entering the wind-powered maritime freight sector. The startup is targeting a fundraising round of €15 to €20 million by 2027 and aims to reach profitability soon.
