Europe’s key ocean energy industry figures are meeting with key political leaders at a high level summit in Dublin today to present a game plan for commercialising the ocean energy sector.
The summit marks the start of the two day Ocean Energy Europe Conference & Exhibition.
Ocean Energy Europe is a network of ocean energy professionals and representatives from 105 organisations, including Europe’s leading utilities, industrialists and research institutes.
European Commissioner for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Karmenu Vella, will convene a high level session of the Ocean Energy Forum to discuss the first conclusions of the Forum’s Strategic Roadmap.
The Roadmap sets out the industry’s six-point plan for bring ocean energy technologies to the marketplace.
The event takes place as Europe’s ocean energy industry, prepares for take-off deployments in 2016, such as the MeyGen project in the Pentland Firth.
Ocean Energy chief executive Rémi Gruet, said: “The action plan provides concrete proposals for public-private cooperation which would turn Europe’s technology leadership into a new industrial sector, providing growth and jobs for Europe.”
Vella said: “Ocean energy could meet 10% of the EU’s power demand by 2050. This is a huge opportunity for the EU which currently imports more than half of its energy needs, with an annual price tag of 400 billion euros.”
“Making ocean energy a success will mean more business opportunities and more high-skilled jobs especially in coastal areas, and for companies that can use their existing knowledge in naval construction, offshore activities, or experience in hydro equipment manufacturing to move into ocean energy.
“With 45% of wave energy companies and 50% of tidal energy companies worldwide coming from the EU, we have a good chance to maintain leadership in a growing global market,” added Vella.
Irish Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Alex White, said: “We are all aware of the enormous potential of the ocean energy sector. Not only in terms of contributing to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions but also in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.
“Equally importantly, I believe there is significant potential to deliver green growth and jobs to the economy.”
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