IEA Ocean Energy Systems (OES) 2018 Annual Report Highlights Significant Progress on Ocean Energy
22/03/2019
22/03/2019
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The OES published its 2018 Annual Report, the most comprehensive annual overview of national policies, research and technology demonstration on ocean energy in its member countries. The report also presents the achievements and progress made by each of the OES members throughout 2018 in their collaborative projects.
The report reveals that several tidal projects achieved extensive operating hours with multi-GWhs (gigawatt-hours) of generation being clocked up globally. Wave energy technology has progressed with a number of large-scale laboratory and offshore tests having been successfully undertaken. Device developments are nearing commercial reality, a growing range of devices are being tested in the water, and the wider supply chain is becoming involved.
Cross-border R&D projects, particularly supported by European Union funding, are accelerating and disseminating the learnings from device developments and deployments, as well as addressing pressing issues, such as design and efficiency improvements, array configurations, environmental impacts and cost reduction. National governments are also showing positive signs to developers and investors by supporting the sector: US DoE announced funding of $25m to support 12 next-generation marine energy technologies in addition to enabling projects. Wave Energy Scotland selected two devices to go forward to real-sea testing in 2020 with funding of £7.7m.
Henry Jeffrey of University of Edinburgh, Chairperson of OES, said, “2018 saw commercial interest in ocean energy growing significantly at a global level, but there are considerable investment costs and bottlenecks that will need to be overcome. Globally we are still waiting for clear market signals for ocean energy projects. Such market signals are vital for the industry to progress towards commercialization”.
Read the complete press release on the OES website.
The report reveals that several tidal projects achieved extensive operating hours with multi-GWhs (gigawatt-hours) of generation being clocked up globally. Wave energy technology has progressed with a number of large-scale laboratory and offshore tests having been successfully undertaken. Device developments are nearing commercial reality, a growing range of devices are being tested in the water, and the wider supply chain is becoming involved.
Cross-border R&D projects, particularly supported by European Union funding, are accelerating and disseminating the learnings from device developments and deployments, as well as addressing pressing issues, such as design and efficiency improvements, array configurations, environmental impacts and cost reduction. National governments are also showing positive signs to developers and investors by supporting the sector: US DoE announced funding of $25m to support 12 next-generation marine energy technologies in addition to enabling projects. Wave Energy Scotland selected two devices to go forward to real-sea testing in 2020 with funding of £7.7m.
Henry Jeffrey of University of Edinburgh, Chairperson of OES, said, “2018 saw commercial interest in ocean energy growing significantly at a global level, but there are considerable investment costs and bottlenecks that will need to be overcome. Globally we are still waiting for clear market signals for ocean energy projects. Such market signals are vital for the industry to progress towards commercialization”.
Read the complete press release on the OES website.