The European Commission has presented its Communication on Blue Energy - Action needed to deliver on the potential of ocean energy in European seas and oceans by 2020 and beyond [COM(2014) 8 FINAL]. The Communication aims to facilitate the further development of the renewable ocean energy sector in Europe. A central element of the action will be to establish an Ocean Energy Forum, bringing together stakeholders to build capacity and foster cooperation.
The Forum will be made up of ministers, regional directors and industry CEOs from across Europe. The Commission proposes to use the outputs from the Ocean Energy Forum to create a European Industrial Initiative for Ocean Energy by 2017.
European Commissioner for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Maria Damanaki and Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger presented the new action plan on January 20, in an effort to drive forward the nascent 'blue energy' sector towards full industrialisation. Commissioner Oettinger said at the presentation that ocean energy has significant potential to enhance the security of supply, adding that this Communication aims to promote technological innovation and to reach the objectives of the Europe 2020 Strategy and beyond. The Commissioner noted that developing a wide portfolio of renewable energy sources, including ocean energy, would also facilitate their integration into the European energy system.
The new Communication has been enthusiastically received by the industry. Ocean Energy Europe CEO Sian George noted that the prize for securing global technology leadership in ocean energy was huge, but the challenges faced by the sector are significant. “The Commission clearly recognises this and has moved to help the industry bridge the gap to commercialisation,” she said.
“The industry is extremely pleased with the creation of the Ocean Energy Forum and looks forward to working with the Commission and Member States to make sure it drives the sector forward. The initiative provides a platform for coordinating support and risk sharing which will ultimately provide practical support and get devices in the water,” George said.
Despite its undoubted potential, this promising new sector is facing several challenges, including the high cost of technology, infrastructural and administrative barriers and environmental issues. In an effort to tackle these, this ocean energy action plan will create a forum to bring together existing knowledge and expertise, create synergies, provide creative solutions and drive the development of this sector forward.
To read the communication:
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/policy/ocean_energy/documents/com_2014_8_en.pdf
For further information: