Today (March 7) IEA-OES published its 2021 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 of OES collaborative projects.
Despite being a challenging year, 2021 saw sustained innovation and cross-border collaboration, leading to continued offshore testing and deployment of ocean energy prototypes. The report reveals that several projects achieved extensive operating hours and a growing range of devices are being tested at open sea.
National governments are also showing positive signs to developers and investors by supporting the sector: US DOE announced the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a legislation that will provide billions of dollars in federal funding to a variety of infrastructure and clean energy projects across the country, including funds applicable for ocean energy. The approval of the Australian Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Bill 2021 is seen as a strong step forward in support of Australian ocean energy development. In China, the approval of The Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035', ensures political commitment to ocean energy development in the country.
The EuropeWave scheme, jointly backed by EVE-Basque Energy Agency, Wave Energy Scotland and Ocean Energy Europe has selected seven wave energy projects for support to further develop their device concepts, using a pre-commercial procurement scheme. Multi-country research and innovation projects, particularly supported by European Union funding, are contributing to significantly improving the overall reliability, energy yield, availability, operating costs and lifetime costs of complete ocean energy systems.
"This 2021 OES report can be read as twofold: indeed on the one hand, the testimony that many countries now see ocean energy as one of the practical levers of the energy transition and have taken programmatic and financial decisions to support the sector; in the other hand, the OES Technology Collaborative Program has launched an updated and ambitious strategic plan, building on the flow of results from ongoing projects. " says Yann-Hervé De Roeck, Chairperson of OES.
In 2021, progress has been made on a number of OES collaborative strategic Tasks: The OTEC task culminated in the launch of the White Paper on OTEC, calling for political awareness of the need to work together to develop OTEC much faster than its current pace. For a number of years, OES-Environment has been working towards risk retirement for stressors that may affect marine animals and habitats. While the issues that surround these interactions have not been entirely solved with respect to consenting, the research and monitoring underway around the world is making great strides. Further, the International Evaluation and Guidance Framework published in 2021 builds the foundations of a clear, unambiguous evaluation methodology for cost-efficiency and technical success of ocean energy technologies. Beyond the delivery of this document, OES has continued to engage and collaborate, progressing towards an internationally agreed process for maturation and evaluation of ocean energy technology. Working internationally enables nations to pool talent and resources to address global challenges that no country can tackle alone. This report reflects the benefits of cross-cutting coordination between different levels of industry, academia, and government.
The IEA-OES Annual Report 2021 is available here
For more information on Ocean Energy Systems visit www.ocean-energy-systems.org email info@ocean-energy-systems.org or call +351 21 848 2655.
Ocean Energy Systems (OES)
Ocean Energy Systems (OES) is also known as the Technology Collaboration Programme on Ocean Energy Systems' under the International Energy Agency (IEA). It is an intergovernmental collaboration between countries, which operates under a framework established by the International Energy Agency in Paris. Presently, the OES has 24 member countries with a number of other observer countries in the process of joining. The OES connects organisations and individuals working in the ocean energy sector to accelerate the viability, uptake and acceptance of ocean energy systems in an environmentally acceptable manner. The work of the OES covers all forms of energy generation in which sea water forms the motive power through its physical and chemical properties, i.e. wave, tidal range, tidal and ocean currents, ocean thermal energy conversion and salinity gradients.
The OES international co-operation facilitates:
- Securing access to advanced R&D teams in the participating countries;
- Developing a harmonized set of measures and testing protocols for the testing of prototypes;
- Reducing national costs by collaborating internationally;
- Creating valuable international contacts between government, industry and science;
- Sharing information and networking.
International Energy Agency (IEA)
Established in 1974, the International Energy Agency (IEA) carries out a comprehensive programme of energy co-operation for its 29 member countries and beyond by examining the full spectrum of energy issues and advocating policies that will enhance energy security, economic development, environmental awareness and engagement worldwide.
The Technology Collaboration Programme (TCP)
The TCP supports the work of independent, international groups of experts that enable governments and industries from around the world to lead programmes and projects on a wide range of energy technologies and related issues. The experts in these collaborations work to advance the research, development and commercialisation of energy technologies. The scope and strategy of each collaboration is in keeping with the IEA Shared Goals of energy security, environmental protection and economic growth, as well as engagement worldwide. The Technology Collaboration Programme was created with a belief that the future of energy security and sustainability starts with global collaboration. The programme is made up of 6,000 experts across government, academia, and industry dedicated to advancing common research and the application of specific energy technologies.
