Meet the Team: Maria Ikhennicheu | OWC France
At OWC, our teams are constantly expanding into more locations, in expertise, and in sectors of influence. Our people are at the heart of what we do, and we invite you to get to know our team members so you can meet the energy behind change.
For this week’s meet the team, we chat with Maria Ikhennicheu, a Principal Engineer with OWC France.
Position: Principal Engineer
Office: Nantes, OWC France
Favourite Book: La Horde du Contrevent by Alain Damasio
Hobbies Outside of Work: Trail Running, Hiking, and Bikepacking
Can you give us a glimpse into what your day-today entails?
Project management for industrial and research and development (R&D) projects – with a particular focus on marine renewable energy systems – floating solar (FPV), tidal energy, and offshore wind.
I also support in building innovative R&D proposals, with FPV team management, proposals, marketing, and of course keep up with innovation in the sectors by reading the latest scientific literature!
What first sparked your interest in the renewable sector?
My interest in the renewable sector began with a strong desire for a more sustainable society and a fascination with the sea. I’ve always been drawn to solutions that protect our environment, especially those tied to marine energy. This passion naturally led me toward renewables – and OWC France.
What do you enjoy most about working within the floating solar sector?
What I enjoy most about working with floating solar is tackling the technical challenges. While FPV might seem like a simple system at first, deploying thousands of interconnected structures in dynamic, wave-affected environments is far from easy. There’s always an interesting problem to solve, which keeps the work engaging and rewarding.
What does the future of energy and oceans look like in France?
The future looks promising. France is embracing offshore wind, tidal energy, and floating PV, opening up exciting opportunities in marine renewables.
What’s been a recent highlight for you at ABL Group?
Organising a team to run the Odyssea race, with support from ABL Group, was a real highlight. Odyssea raises awareness and funds for breast cancer research, and it was great to see a team from OWC France take part in both 2023 and 2024!