SKF joins Ocean Energy Europe as lead partner

Swedish bearing and seal manufacturing company SKF has taken part in the Board of Ocean Energy Europe, a network of ocean energy professionals, as a Lead Partner.  

Michael Baumann, Global Application Account Manager Ocean Energy, will be representing SKF on the board. 

“OEE is the largest global network of ocean energy professionals in the world and is pivotal to continuously put ocean energy on the European agenda. It’s unwavering efforts to promote ocean energy is key to connecting the right stakeholders in a still emerging industry to ensure commercial deployment finally happens. We are proud to be involved from early on,” said Baumann. 

Established in 1907, SKF provides solutions for rotating shafts, including bearings, seals, lubrication, condition monitoring, and maintenance services, aiming to enable the transition towards a carbon-neutral economy.

The company has also participated in several EU-funded initiatives that focus on bringing tidal technology closer to commercial readiness. They include FloTEC, TIPA, TOPFLOTE, TAOIDE, EnFAIT, FORWARD 2030, and the SEASTAR project. 

“It is a great step for the sector to welcome our first supply-chain actor to the Board of Directors. It shows that ocean energy is now clearly identified as a new “client” sector for EU companies, just like offshore wind. I look forward to working with Michael Baumann and the SKF team to bring ocean energy to market,” added Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe.

In terms of recent news coming from SKF, the company delivered the drivetrains for two tidal energy turbines to Sabella’s assembly facility in Brest as part of the TIGER project.