Ocean energy industry players have assembled today in Nantes in France at the Ocean Energy Europe 2017 Conference & Exhibition to assess its progress towards commercialization.
Despite political uncertainties, the sector has demonstrated its resilience over the past 12 months by generating record-breaking performance data, beginning the scale-up to commercial production, and opening export markets, Ocean Energy Europe said.
Opening the conference, Ocean Energy Europe CEO, Rémi Gruet , said: “Over the past 12 months, ocean energy has continued its steady march towards industrialization, despite the challenging political climate.
“We are seeing the emergence of a new industry. Pilot farms, which hit the water in 2016, have delivered valuable performance data and learnings in 2017. Building on this, the industry is constructing the world’s first ocean energy factories in Europe, clearing the way to volume scale-up and cost reductions.
“French and European companies are already leading the way globally. The industry is opening global export markets, and the first ocean energy orders are now being placed from Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, and Canada.”
Over 2 days, over 400 senior industry and public representatives, as well as more than 60 exhibiting companies will gather in Nantes during the event.
It is organized by Ocean Energy Europe, a Brussels-based industry group representing the renewable ocean energy sector in Europe.