Ocean Energy Europe (OEE) has elected Dr. Jochen Weilepp, representing Sustainable Marine Energy, as co-president of the association.
Dr. Weilepp will join Simon De Pietro of DP Energy, who has been OEE co-president since 2016.
Dr. Weilepp has been a member of the OEE board for almost a decade and has been active in the ocean energy sector for 15 years. He currently represents tidal turbine technology developers Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) and Schottel Hydro, and advises wave developer Nemos.
Dr Weilepp is also Professor for Energy Management at the University of Applied Sciences Biberach, Germany, and has extensive experience with a range of ocean energy technologies. From 2005 until 2012, as CEO of Voith Hydro Ocean Current Technologies, he oversaw projects in wave, tidal and salinity gradient.
Dr. Weilepp commented: “ It is a great honour to be elected OEE co-President at this crucial stage for the sector. Over the past 15 years, I have seen ocean energy technologies go from strength to strength, with numerous projects now producing clean, predictable electricity across Europe. I am looking forward to working with the OEE team as they engage with both national governments and the incoming European Parliament and Commission.
“I believe that with Simon’s experience as a project developer and my own background working with device manufacturers, we are in a strong position to lead the sector forward to commercialisation .”
Simon de Pietro , managing director of DP Energy and OEE co-President added: “ I am delighted to share the OEE Presidency with Jochen, who has a wealth of experience in ocean energy. These are exciting times for the sector, and I am confident that together with the OEE board, we can steer the industry through this period where energy production is going up and costs are coming down .”