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RenewableUK Wave&Tidal 2012
15 March 2012, EICC, Edinburgh
The UK is already the global leader in the development of wave and tidal energy. With well developed plans for commercial deployment of its projects, a host of testing facilities and significant private investment in the past year, it is on the threshold of rapid growth.
The big issue the industry has to face is the level of funding and incentivisation to encourage utilities and equipment manufacturers to deliver the world’s first marine energy arrays over the next few years.
Wave and Tidal 2012 is a must for anyone interested in the development of the sector’s huge potential, not just in the UK but worldwide. With conference sessions and over 450 government and industry professionals expected, it presents a golden opportunity to update yourself on all fronts.
50 companies active in the UK wave and tidal sector will be on display at the accompanying exhibition.
Event Website
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Joint EU-OEA and MS Position Paper on Ocean Energy has been released.
Ministers of the governments of Ireland, the UK, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey today [November 24] called on the European Union to give its full backing to the development of the massive ocean energy resources that exist in these regions.
The governments gave their support to a Member State Position Paper on Ocean Energy, issued jointly by the governments of the UK, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, France, Denmark, Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands, which sets out the potential for the Ocean Energy sector to satisfy 15% of EU energy demand and create 314,000 new jobs across Europe by 2050.
For more information, please download the position paper here.
ORECCA European Offshore Renewable Energy Roadmap
The Orecca Project has published the European Offshore Renewable Energy Roadmap.
The document represents for the first time a combined roadmap developed for the offshore wind, wave and tidal stream energy sectors, focussed on the synergies, opportunities and barriers to development.
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Alstom/SSE Wave Power press release
Please find attached the following press release:
Alstom and SSE Renewables create joint venture to co-develop world's largest wave farm off the coast of Orkney, Scotland.
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ICOE 2012: 4th International Conference on Ocean Energy, Dublin, 17 - 19 October 2012
The
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), in association with the
International ICOE Committee, the European Ocean Energy Association and
the IEA -OES, are delighted to announce that Ireland will be the venue
for the 4th International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) to take
place from Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th October 2012, at the Convention
Centre Dublin.
ICOE is
the global marine energy event focused on the industrial development of
renewable marine energy. Held every two years, the goal of the
conference and exhibition is to share recent experiences from research
and demonstration efforts and experiences from related industries. It
aims to accelerate development by stimulating collaboration networks
between companies and research and development centres.
ICOE 2012 Website
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The European Science Foundation and the Marine Board publish a vision document on the future of Marine Renewable energy.
This document, that was drafted by the highest ranking ocean and marin renewable energy experts, including EU-OEA's Nathalie Rousseau, shows the different challenges facing the offshore renewable energy sector and proposes a vision for future development.
More...
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Projet de parc hydrolien de Paimpol-Bréhat : DCNS continue l'aventure
Réalisée et assemblée par le groupe DCNS
et la société irlandaise OpenHydro, l’hydrolienne prototype du futur
parc hydrolien d’EDF, a regagné Brest ce jour après une immersion de
trois mois. A l’issue de cette période de tests, DCNS se réjouit des
premiers résultats obtenus et prépare les prochaines étapes de ce projet
innovant.
Vous
trouverez en pièce jointe le communiqué de presse correspondant, ainsi
que des images basse définition (haute définition sur demande).
Communiqué de presse
Image
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OWEMES 2012
5 - 7 September 2012, Rome-Italy
OWEMES is pleased to announce that the 7thEdition of the European Seminar OWEMES 2012 to be hosted by Eolica Expo Mediterranean, 5-7 September 2012 in the Rome Fair Exhibition Center, Italy. The European Seminar provides the opportunity to meet experts from various fields of industry and research. These experts will share their actual knowledge, unique experiences and strong vision on marine renewable energies.
Visit the registration page to book.
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The European policy news website Euractiv reports on the publication of the EU-OEA roadmap
On the 20th July 2020, Euractiv Published an article about the EU-OEA roadmap, citing Executive Director Nathalie Rousseau, and explaining the promising, though challenging state in which the ocean energy sector is.
More... |
SeaGen tidal turbine gets all-clear from environmental & scientific studies
As well as being a renewable energy success , SeaGen, the
world’s first commercial tidal current energy turbine is also an
environmental success. The tidal turbine, designed and deployed by
Marine Current Turbines Ltd (MCT) and located in Northern Ireland’s
Strangford Lough has had no major impact on the Lough’s marine life.
This is the main conclusion of a report prepared by the environmental
consultancy Royal Haskoning, in collaboration with an independent
Science Group, comprising representatives of the Northern Ireland
Environment Agency, Queen’s University Belfast, the Sea Mammal Research
Unit and others. The Science Group was chaired by David Erwin, a former
Chief Executive of the Ulster Wildlife Trust. The
Royal Haskoning report, prepared on behalf of MCT, will be published
this afternoon at an event to be held at the Belfast Harbour
Commissioners. The event, a series of presentations on the different
aspects of the SeaGen Environmental Monitoring Programme, will be
attended by representatives
of Northern Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment,
the Department of Environment, members of the scientific and
environmental teams as well as members of the local community that live
and work in the vicinity of Strangford Lough. The
main outcomes of the Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) that
commenced in 2005, before SeaGen’s deployment and its start of operation
in 2008, were: 1. No major impacts have been detected from any of the monitoring programmes; 2. There
have been no changes in abundance of either seals or porpoises detected
which can be attributed to SeaGen; seals and porpoises are continuing
to swim past SeaGen, demonstrating a lack of any concern or hindrance. The
only changes observed after three years of operation of SeaGen have
been relatively small scale changes in the behaviour and distribution of
seals and harbour porpoises, which suggests a minor degree of local
avoidance of SeaGen. The
benthic ecology (seabed life) was also monitored as part of the EMP,
using divers. The EMP concluded that the seabed life surrounding
SeaGen’s foundations has recovered since its installation in 2008. In
addition, the EMP has showed no evidence of significant change to the
tidal speeds and flow directions within Strangford Narrows and that it
is unlikely that marine traffic between Strangford town and Portaferry
has been affected. With regard to bird life, although not a key
feature of the EMP, the studies have shown that the overall bird numbers
in the Narrows have remained stable. Frank
Fortune, Technical Director at Royal Haskoning said: “The findings of
the EMP give us confidence that SeaGen will be able to continue to
operate with no likely significant impacts on the marine environment of
Strangford Lough. This validates the innovative, adaptive management
approach to monitoring and mitigation taken by MCT and supported by the
Northern Ireland Environment Agency.” David
Erwin, the Chairman of the SeaGen Scientific Group and Stakeholder
Liaison Group: “This is the most comprehensive study of the
environmental impact of marine energy devices undertaken anywhere in the
world. Given my long association with the Lough, I was always
confident that SeaGen could operate without any significant impact and
I’m delighted that the results of five years painstaking work by some of
the world’s most-respected experts in their fields have shown this to
be the case.” Northern
Ireland’s Environment Minister, Alex Attwood, has said of the
Environmental Monitoring Report: “I must commend David Erwin, colleagues
at the Department of Environment and every single member of the
environmental monitoring team. SeaGen has been a pioneering project
with interest around the world not only in its energy performance but
also its environmental impact. Marine Current Turbines has proven that
the power of the seas can be harnessed in harmony with marine life. The
results of their work will give everyone greater confidence in realising
the economic and environmental benefits that tidal and wave energy can
offer to Northern Ireland, elsewhere in the UK and Ireland as well as
other parts of the world.” Northern
Ireland’s Energy Minister, Arlene Foster, praised all involved in this
work. The Minister said: “SeaGen has drawn the world’s attention to
Northern Ireland and the potential of our offshore renewable energy
resources which can contribute to the Executive’s 40% renewable energy
target by 2020, and beyond. Following The Crown Estate announcement of
our Offshore Renewable Leasing Round in December, companies are now
expressing very positive interest in this opportunity. The key lessons
learned from this extensive environmental monitoring programme at SeaGen
can be used as tidal developments are taken forward around Rathlin and
Torr Head as part of this Leasing Round.” Copies of the EMP report are available upon request from Marine Current Turbines. Notes to Editors: 1. MCT’s 1.2MW
SeaGen was deployed in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough in 2008
under licence from the Northern Ireland Department of Environment. It
has the capacity to generate power for the equivalent of about 1500
homes. For
most of the past 3½ years, SeaGen’s operation had been limited by its
licence conditions to daylight hours but these have been lifted. SeaGen
works in principle much like an “underwater windmill” with the rotors
driven by the power of the tidal currents rather than the wind. SeaGen is accredited by OFGEM as a UK power station and so is a recipient of Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). 2. Marine Current Turbines (www.marineturbines.com)
is based in Bristol, England. Founded in 1999, MCT has led the market
in developing and patenting tidal current stream energy devices. MCT is
backed by investors including principal shareholder Siemens, utility
companies and specialist funds. The company is taking forward a number
of tidal projects in UK and overseas waters. MCT is developing a 10MW
tidal farm off Anglesey, north Wales (the Skerries tidal project), an
8MW tidal farm in Kyle Rhea (Scotland’s Isle of Skye) and is working
with Minas Basin Pulp & Power to deploy a single SeaGen tidal system in Canada’s Bay of Fundy. In addition, MCT
has an approval for a lease from The Crown Estate to deploy a 100MW
tidal farm off Brough Ness, on the southern most tip of the Orkney
Islands. 3.
Electricity generation aspects of SeaGen are regulated by the Northern
Ireland Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment. All aspects of
construction in the marine environment are regulated by the Northern
Ireland Environment Agency on behalf of Department of the Environment 4.
Royal Haskoning is the leading environmental and engineering
consultancy advising the wave and tidal sector internationally.
Established over 130 years ago, Royal Haskoning has 4000 staff based in
17 countries, working from 57 offices. For further information/interview requests: Marine Current Turbines Bethan Halls, Taylor Keogh Communications Or Paul Taylor, Taylor Keogh Communications Strangford Lough SeaGen Science Group David Erwin, Chairman Royal Haskoning Frank Fortune, Technical Director
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