Normandy, a region in northern France, will host the International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) in June 2018.
The application to host the event, filed by West Normandy Marine Energy (WNME) and Bluesign, included the technological, economic and structural achievements of Normandy in ocean energy development.
The region of Normandy is amongst three major areas suitable for the commercial development of tidal energy, together with Nova Scotia in Canada and Scotland in UK.
Washington, USA, was competing against Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in Normandy to host the event in 2 years.
ICOE is a global marine energy event focused on the industrial development of renewable marine energy that gathers 600 to 900 experts and about a hundred exhibitors every two years.
Philippe Bas , President of the Manche Department, said: “We are pleased to welcome such an event. After Thetis 2014, Cherbourg opens its gates to a new ocean energy opus. This is a new opportunity for all stakeholders to show their strengths and expertise and build sustainable links to contribute to this highly competitive sector.”
Hervé Morin , President of the Normandy Region and WNME, added: “We will be hosting the biggest international event on ocean energy in 2018, straight after having hosted the international convention on marine energies Seanergy. Both of them are milestones that will contribute to increasing the territory’s visibility in terms of R&D, innovation, supply chain, training offers, but also contribute to the maturation of the market.”
In 2016, the event was held in Edinburgh, Scotland, where 25 countries were represented, according to WNME, a local public company founded in 2012 by the Normandy Region, the Manche
Department and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin to promote the development of marine renewable energy in the region.
ICOE is supported by the International Energy Agency (IEA) through Ocean Energy Systems (OES) – an intergovernmental group that works on international collaboration for ocean energy in order to accelerate the development of the sector and reduce the costs of these energies.