Abstract
Ocean Energy Systems (OES) is the short name for the Technology Collaboration Programme on Ocean Energy Systems under the International Energy Agency (IEA). This Annual Report presents an overview of the activities undertaken within OES in 2017, as well as updated country reviews prepared by the Delegates.
The year 2017 marked the beginning of the fourth 5-year mandate (2017 – 2022) of the OES.
The Strategic Plan for this next five years continues to be the guiding document for the OES work programme. The development of ocean energy has been slower than expected. A longer term vision is required to see the development of ocean energy to the stage where it becomes a viable, cost-effective and reliable alternative to other forms of renewable energy. The added value of the OES arises from good, truly international cooperation. OES is the only intergovernmental, multinational organization in the ocean energy sector, independent of any commercial interests and composed of active members, that encompass the full range of interests from government policy to industry developments. For this new work period, OES will bring added value to national activities by coordinated efforts on priority topics for the whole sector and by delivering clear key technology policy messages to decision makers.
The OES has 25 members, which provide a broad international base of information, sharing experience and knowledge and further a diversified representation of interests: members are from governmental departments, utilities, universities and research organizations, energy agencies and industry associations. This is one of the benefits of joining OES: participants gain an international perspective on ocean energy issues, opportunities and present challenges.
The OES is always looking for new members across the globe, and key representatives from potential new member countries are encouraged to attend meetings as Observers.
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.
This Executive Summary provides a brief summary of the OES Annual Report for the year 2017. It synthesizes the main achievements in the OES collaborative activities and presents relevant policies and projects by each OES member country. It also includes, as in previous years, an interview on a specific topic, this year about environmental issues on ocean energy: Andrea Copping, coordinator of the work done under Task 4 (known as Annex IV) gives her views to six questions from OES.