EU Ocean Energy Forum Commences Work in Dublin

The European Union’s Ocean Energy Forum announced its Steering Committee members today at its first working meeting in Dublin. The Committees, composed of an all-star cast of European ocean energy actors, commenced work on a comprehensive strategy for the commercialisation of the renewable ocean energy sector.

The Steering Committees for each of the Forum’s three workstreams – technology, markets/finance and environment/consenting – are composed of Europe’s leading ocean energy actors from industry, research, local and national government. The preliminary findings of the Forum will be presented at a Ministerial Summit, attended by EU Energy Ministers and senior industry figures, in Paris this October.

Today also marked the first meeting of TP Ocean, the Technology and Innovation Platform for Ocean Energy, which will provide the technology workstream for the Ocean Energy Forum. Support for this initiative was formally announced at the meeting with the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (UK), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), and the Oceanic Platform of the Canary Islands (PLOCAN) weighing in behind it.

“TP Ocean will play a vital role in bringing innovative new technologies to bear in wave and tidal power generation, to ensure we realise the enormous opportunity presented by Europe’s vast marine energy resources,” Sian George, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe, the trade association for ocean renewable energy.

Andrew Macdonald, Engineering Technology Manager for the ORE Catapult commented: “The Forum is an excellent opportunity for us to highlight our vast ocean energy potential and our strong commitment to developing a thriving clean energy sector. We see ourselves as part of an international community linked by shared goals and would like to welcome all participants to Dublin.”