Businesses invited to become members of new ocean network
€2.6million European project will unlock potential of ocean energy
A new pan-European project, the Ocean Power Innovation Network (OPIN), which aims to accelerate the development of the ocean energy sector was launched in Ireland last month. With a three-year budget of €2.6 million, €1.5 million funded by INTERREG North West Europe, the project is led by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), in partnership with organisations from the UK, Belgium, France, Germany and the Netherlands, and will explore ways to unlock the potential of this renewable energy resource.
Partners in the project include:
- Scottish Enterprise (UK)
- Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (UK)
- Sirris, the collective centre of the technological industry (Belgium)
- West Atlantic Marine Energy Community, Centrale Nantes (France)
- Dutch Marine Energy Centre (Netherlands)
- Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. (Germany)
OPIN will encourage collaboration between the ocean energy sector and other sectors, such as oil and gas, automotive, aerospace, ICT, advanced materials, sensors, and manufacturing, to identify ways to grow the ocean energy supply chain. Partners are calling on businesses with expertise that can be used in the ocean sector to join the OPIN project, explore collaboration opportunities with other organisations, and avail of the supports available.
Jan Reid, Senior Manager, Low Carbon Technologies at Scottish Enterprise - a partner in the project - said: “Ocean energy can contribute significantly to a low carbon economy. This project will provide a platform to access services and collaboration opportunities across North West Europe, providing targeted support and allowing companies in this developing industry to come together and work with other sectors. Scottish Enterprise is pleased to be working with our partners to deliver this project."
Jim Gannon, CEO of SEAI said: “The basic premise of OPIN is to encourage cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration for offshore renewable energy SMEs. This will bring proven expertise, capabilities and products into the ocean energy sector. As we work to remove barriers to offshore renewable energy development, OPIN will help to reduce costs and accelerate both technology and market development.”
Simon Cheeseman, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult’s - Sector Specialist Wave & Tidal, said: “ORE Catapult is delighted to be an OPIN delivery partner. Collaboration and successful transfer of technology are essential activities to accelerate development, establish best practice, drive standardisation and reduce costs across the ocean energy sector.”
Florent VINCE, Project Development Officer at West Atlantic Marine Energy Community (WEAMEC) said, “Development in the ocean energy sector requires international collaboration, and cross-fertilisation of ideas between SMEs in different regions and sectors. SMEs also need to be aware of the possibilities for development and innovation in the OE sector. WEAMEC is delighted to be work package leader for the creation of a transnational network which will provide support, training, and a forum for cooperation and collaboration.”
Bart Teerlinck, team leader Metal Product Solutions, SIRRIS, said, “Offshore energy is a growth market with a big export potential for Flemish companies. It is also a challenging market characterized by its capital-intensive and high-risk profile, multidisciplinary diversity and the presence of a strong driver to increase performance and reduce costs. Sirris is eager to participate in this international cluster to bring the economic potential of ocean energy in Flanders to the maximum.”
Justin den Hartog, Head of Operations, Dutch Marine Energy Centre added, “Cross- sectoral collaboration is essential for accelerating the marine energy sector. We are delighted working together with our international partners to create new solutions and establish a long-term network for innovation.”
Interested businesses can see membership details and the full list of supports on the OPIN Project website: www.nweurope.eu/OPIN or contact: OPIN@seai.ie.
Picture caption (main image): OPIN partners speaking at the projects launch event at the SEAI Energy Show in the RDS, Dublin [L-R Liam Curran (Enterprise Ireland), Peter Coyle (Marine Renewable Industry Association (MRIA)), Sam McCloskey (Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE)), Colm de Burca (Electricity Supply Board (ESB)), Karen Fraser (Scottish Enterprise), and Declan Meally (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland)
Picture caption (secondary image): OPIN partners speaking at the projects launch event at the SEAI Energy Show in the RDS, Dublin [L-R Liam Curran (Enterprise Ireland), Peter Coyle (Marine Renewable Industry Association (MRIA)), Sam McCloskey (Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy (CASE)), Colm de Burca (Electricity Supply Board (ESB)), Karen Fraser (Scottish Enterprise), and Declan Meally (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland)]
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Notes to editors
About Scottish Enterprise: Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's main economic development agency, and aims to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy. Scottish Enterprises role is to help identify and exploit the best opportunities for economic growth. They support ambitious Scottish companies to compete within the global marketplace and help build Scotland’s globally competitive sectors. Scottish Enterprise also work with a range of partners in the public and private sectors to attract new investment to Scotland.
About OPIN: OPIN is a 3-year initiative, running from 2019 to 2021. The budget for OPIN Is €2.6million, with €1.5 million in financial support contributed by Interreg North West Europe from the European Research and Development Fund (ERDF).
OPIN Events for 2019:
|
Workshop Title |
Date |
Location |
|
Annual Symposium |
30 September |
Dublin, Ireland |
|
Energy Policy and Offshore Renewables State of the Nation |
October |
Blyth, UK |
|
Advanced materials and manufacturing (Composites) |
13-14 November |
Nantes, France |
|
Finance and Innovation Models |
December |
Glasgow, UK |
Further details of these events will be posted on the OPIN Project webpage (www.nweurope.eu/OPIN) and social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter)
About Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (Ireland): SEAI is Ireland’s national energy authority investing in, and delivering, appropriate, effective and sustainable solutions to help Ireland’s transition to a clean energy future. We work with Government, homeowners, businesses and communities to achieve this, through expertise, funding, educational programmes, policy advice, research and the development of new technologies. SEAI is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
About Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (UK): OREC is the UK's flagship technology innovation and research centre for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy. It has over 100 engineers and test facilities designed specifically for the ocean energy sector. OREC has successfully led and delivered FP7 and H2020 projects including RETA (SME support programme), LIFES50+ (Floating Wind), Optimus (Drive train reliability). It has also demonstrated an ability to convene industry data-sharing with projects such as SPARTA.
About Sirris, the collective centre of the technological industry (Belgium): Sirris is the collective centre for the Belgian technological industry. Sirris provides support to businesses of all sizes. The mission of Sirris’s 140 technological experts is to help companies develop, test and effectively implement technological innovations. Sirris is strongly connected to the Belgian and International off shore value chain through several initiatives.
About West Atlantic Marine Energy Community (WEAMEC) Centrale Nantes (France): WEAMEC gathers the Marine Renewable Energy ecosystem of Pays de la Loire French Region in the fields of Research, Education and Innovation activities. The WEAMEC brings together 30 institutions and research labs (such as Centrale Nantes, Université de Nantes, Jules Verne Research Institute, EMC2, IFSTTAR, CEA Tech) and more than 60 companies at the Regional level.
About Dutch Marine Energy Centre (Netherlands): DMEC is a service provider and project developer in the international marine energy sector. In their vision, marine energy solutions will play a crucial role in delivering renewable, predictable and reliable energy for a global sustainable energy system. Their mission is to accelerate the route to market of marine energy solutions. This entails both the technical- and commercial route to market. Besides that, they align groups of crucial stakeholders consisting of policy makers, project developers, offshore companies and investors in order to realise new projects in the water.
About Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. (Germany): Fraunhofer IEE (formerly known as ‘IWES’) has worked on German national, EU and industry funded projects in Ocean Energy for 20 years, often as a project co-ordinator (EU project HiPRWind), or as a work package leader (DTOcean, LEANWIND, TAIODE). Fraunhofer IEE has Ocean Energy expertise in building numerical simulation models, design control algorithms for load reduction and energy yield optimisation, building of PLC operational supervision software and in conducting HIL- and prototype testing (SEAFLOW/SEAGEN) for Ocean Energy devices.