2024 Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda

Image: OceanEnergy

Ocean energy farms are instrumental to technological and industrial progress and must be a central focus of innovation efforts until 2030. The conclusion comes from the Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA) released today by ETIP Ocean. Other innovations, such as AI modelling tools or materials, remain listed priorities supporting pilot farm development and forming a technology path to industrialisation. Ocean energy is seeing much interest from investors lately following an influx of public funding and could rapidly reach industrial stage if those trends continue.

The SRIA for ocean energy, developed by the sectoral advisory body ETIP Ocean, identifies the research and innovation priorities with the greatest impact on the sector’s progress. The report considers the demonstration of pilot farms as the most crucial area, which reflects the sector’s progress since the previous edition of the SRIA. Research into supporting actions must still continue, as they are necessary building blocks enabling farms. Examples are next generation technologies, analysis and modelling tools, enabling technologies from other sectors and market development.

Orienting public funding is crucial and helps leverage private investment: a project pipeline of 167 MW in Europe is publicly supported via EU programmes or national schemes. This public backing has attracted private sector interest, with several companies already investing in those projects or partnering with technology developers.

Continuing this trend will pave the way for commercial ocean energy projects – consolidating Europe’s position as the global leader in the sector. Europe is already home to the world’s first and largest tidal pilot farms and the most advanced wave energy devices. By implementing the SRIA’s recommendations, Europe can maintain its competitive edge and fully capitalise on the opportunities presented by this emerging zero-emission industry.

Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, said: “The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Ocean Energy presents what needs to happen to ensure that the EU remains the global leader in the sector. Addressing these R&I priorities will drive the development of ocean energy technology, accelerate the progress towards industrial roll-out and help deliver on the targets of the EU Offshore Renewable Energy Strategy and the Renewable Energy Directive.”

Dr. Pablo Ruiz-Minguela, Head of Wave Energy at Tecnalia and the report’s lead author, agreed: “The next five years will be crucial for the sector’s progress towards industrialisation. Delivering on the SRIA actions will accelerate the development from research to large-scale deployments, reinforcing Europe’s energy security and competitiveness with home-grown and sustainable ocean energy.”