EuropeWave at OEE2024: Advancing Wave Energy Towards Commercialisation
The third annual EuropeWave event took place on 5 November 2024 in Aviemore, Scotland, as a side event to the Ocean Energy Europe Annual Conference (OEE2024), where ocean energy experts, national and regional authorities, supply chain companies and test centres gathered together to explore cutting-edge innovations and discuss pathways for the commercialisation of ocean energy technologies.
Event Highlights
The event opened with a warm welcome and introduction from Wave Energy Scotland (WES), which set the stage by outlining EuropeWave’s mission to accelerate innovation in wave energy technology through its pre-commercial procurement (PCP) programme. Now in its third and final phase, the programme is supporting three standout projects, which presented their progress to date:
ACHIEVE by CETO Wave Energy Ireland Limited (Download presentation)
MARMOK Atlantic by IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture S.A.U. (Download presentation)
Blue Horizon by Mocean Energy Limited (Download presentation)
Each developer showcased advancements in their wave energy converter (WEC) designs and outlined their deployment strategies. Chaired by Ente Vasco de la Energia (EVE), a panel discussion followed, where project representatives reflected on the challenges in Phase 3, including the regulatory or contracting challenges with deployment sites, supplier engagement and collaboration.
Then, the open-floor discussion, led by Wave Energy Scotland, focused on the critical next steps required to achieve commercialisation. Key points of discussion included:
Post-EuropeWave: The importance of follow-on funding, large-scale demonstration projects, and greater collaboration with the wider industry.
Commercialisation: Approaches to de-risking investments, establishing clear market pathways, and engaging with private investors.
Technology Development: Further testing, scaling up systems, etc.
5-Year Outlook: Goals for deployment readiness, building partnerships, and securing a firm foothold in the market.
Support Mechanisms: Calls for robust policy frameworks, grant funding, and coordinated public and private sector support.
A highlight of the session was having Matthijs Soede from the Commission’s Directorate General for Research & Innovation on the panel to share valuable insights on policy and financial support tailored to emerging technologies. In this occasion, he also confirmed the upcoming EU funding opportunities for wave energy. The diverse perspectives shared during this session highlighted the collective commitment to overcoming barriers and unlocking the potential of wave energy.
Conclusions and Way Forward
The three projects are now focusing on the detailed design work advancing rapidly as they prepare for deploying devices at BiMEP and EMEC. They are actively engaging with suppliers to secure critical components, fabricating equipment for their new WEC designs. These efforts are setting the stage to get ready for their testing in real waters, a vital step in validating performance and reliability before full-scale deployment.
EuropeWave remains at the forefront of wave energy innovation, fostering collaboration and driving technological advancements that bring the sector closer to commercial reality.
