Fresh ocean energy event to act as catalyst for the sector

The Basque Energy Cluster and Ocean Energy Europe (OEE) have teamed up to deliver a joint event on ocean energy in 2022, expected to act as a catalyst for accelerated development of the sector.

The event, ICOE-OEE 2022, will gather ocean energy professionals and decision-makers from all corners of the globe in San Sebastian – Donostia, in the Basque Country, Spain.

By joining forces, the organisers will offer an opportunity for the sector to showcase its successes, network and do business.

Taking place on 18-20 October, the event combines OEE’s annual conference and exhibition, and the International Ocean Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE), which is supported by the International Energy Agency’s Technological Collaboration Program on Ocean Energy Systems (IEA/OES).

The Basque Country, one of the world’s leading centres of ocean energy, is home to a wealth of innovative wave energy activity, including the BiMEP test centre, the Mutriku power plant and over 50 companies, universities and technology centres working in key regional and European initiatives.

“We are excited to co-organise this one-of-a-kind event together with the Basque Energy Cluster, merging two already well-regarded events. With revenue support in the UK and France looking at new pilot farms, it will be a perfect moment for the whole sector to come together and drive ocean energy forward”, said Rémi Gruet, CEO of OEE, the largest network of ocean energy professionals in the world, representing the ocean energy sector in Europe.

José Ignacio Hormaeche, managing director of the Basque Energy Cluster, added: “The next few years will be key for the future success of ocean energy. International collaboration is more relevant than ever, and we want the joint event between ICOE and OEE to be a catalyst for the sector”.

Yann-Hervé De Roeck, chairman of the IEA/OES, said: “Our group of international experts on ocean energy (23 member countries plus the European Commission) collaborates to accelerate the viability, uptake and acceptance of ocean energy systems in an environmentally acceptable manner. By associating our biannual international conference ICOE with OEE event, the resulting synergy is fully in line with our objectives”.