Two of the world’s leading powers in marine renewable energy are joining forces to share in-depth expertise at a special event in Lisbon, Portugal.
Portugal’s leading marine renewable energy firm WavEC Offshore Renewables is teaming up with the Norwegian Embassy and Innovation Norway to host an international seminar on December 04 and 05, at Museu do Oriente in Lisbon.
The ‘Marine Renewable Energy and Offshore Aquaculture’ seminar will involve major international players including EDP Renovables, ASM Industries, Corpower, AW Energy, Jerónimo Martins, Principle Power, TechnipFMC, Innovation Norway, NORWEP, Nørd AS Norway & Nørd Portugal Lda, the Portuguese Space Agency and Financial Mechanism Office.
Knowledge, expertise and latest advances will be shared across several fields including floating offshore wind, wave energy, offshore aquaculture and other ocean market opportunities.
Portugal and Norway are widely considered as front runners in marine renewable energy. In May 2016, all of Portugal's electricity was produced renewably for more than four concurrent days largely supported by wind and hydropower - a landmark achievement for a modern European country. Meanwhile, Norway is Europe's largest producer of hydropower and the 6th largest in the world.
WavEC President António Sarmento said: “WavEC launched its first major study in 2004 assessing Portugal’s wave energy potential. It has since delivered more than 50 R&D projects - seeing more than €10million of funding invested in the sector at WavEC. According to the recent market study on ocean energy, prepared by WavEC and the Italian company COGEA and published by the European Commission, a clear vision and stable support for wave energy will allow the industry to advance with long-term gains.”
WavEC has been a key organization in the development of offshore wind in Portugal, an activity initiated in 2007 following a strategic report showing the way ahead for EDP investment in floating offshore wind and the WindFloat technology from 2008 onwards, in a total investment approaching €200million.
In the last 10 years WavEC has developed nine research projects and more than 12 services fully dedicated to floating offshore wind. The non-profit organisation has become a centre of excellence delivering a range of specialist consultancy services around the world working in collaboration with more than 250 partners in 25 countries.
“Portugal’s investment in marine renewables is underpinned by the government’s National Energy and Climate Plan 2030, pledging €20billion to make the nation 80pc renewable energy efficient by 2030,” added Mr Sarmento. “WavEC’s mission centres around the development of marine renewable energy through R&D, knowledge transfer and innovation. In recent years we have extended our scope to offshore aquaculture and ocean engineering projects. We are encouraging delegates from around the world to join this upcoming seminar to learn about the latest advances and best practice across all these fields. There is also an opportunity for delegates to gain direct access to headline speakers through ‘business to business’ meetings.”
Norwegian Ambassador to Portugal Anders Erdal said: “The Norwegian Embassy in Portugal is thrilled to be working alongside WavEC to deliver this international seminar. We are looking forward to welcoming a world-class panel of speakers who will share their broad experience of developing business concepts, pilot projects and advancing designing tools as well as driving operational excellence and future developments. Norway has particular expertise to offer in the marine renewable sphere with around 99pc of our mainland electricity coming via hydropower plants. We are also continuing to explore and harvest the large potential of offshore wind power and wave power.”
One very interesting aspect is the transfer of competence and technology developed for the oil and gas sector to innovative projects on renewable energy. Norway's major energy company Equinor has been a pioneer in the floating wind market, since the Hywind floating demonstration turbine was installed off Norway’s coast in 2009. More recent developments include a floating wind platform developed by Stiesdal Offshore Technologies – due to be installed at a demonstration site near Stavanger, following a final investment decision by backers Shell and Innogy. Further plans are mooted for floating offshore wind applications in an area of Utsira Nord, off the coast of Rogaland.
To register for the seminar visit the platform http://wavecseminar2019.tacongresspco.com where ‘early bird’ fees apply until November 20. Registration for B2B meetings taking place on December 05 between 9h30 and 12h30 is mandatory through the same registration platform.
For more information about the participating companies visit www.wavec.org. For any further enquiries email mail@wavec.org or telephone: +351 21 8482655.
Marine Renewable Energy and Offshore Aquaculture Event Programme
OPENING SESSION
- António Sarmento, President of the Board, WavEC
- Anders Erdal, Norwegian Ambassador to Portugal
- Ricardo Serrão Santos, Minister of the Sea
- Manuel Heitor, Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education
SESSION I - FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND: NORWAY AND PORTUGAL IN A LEADING POSITION
Chair: Ricardo Morgado, Chief Commercial Officer, ASM Industries
- Pedro Valverde, EDP, Windfloat Atlantic
- Paulo Chainho, Project Engineer, Electrical Components and Instrumentation, WavEC experience on Offshore Wind
- Clara Santos, Commercial and Strategy Manager, Principle Power, Commercial Floating Wind – The WindFloat Role
- Michael Bullock, Director, Renewable Risk Advisers, Floating Wind – what Insurers look out for
- Knut Erik Steen, Director for wind, NORWEP, Floating Wind – how take part in this growing opportunity
SESSION II - WAVE ENERGY: BUILDING A NEW INDUSTRY
Chair: João Gonçalo Maciel, Board Member EDP NEW Centre for New Energy Technologies
- Elaine Buck, Technical Manager, EMEC The European Marine Energy Centre
- Francisco Correia da Fonseca, Offshore Operations Specialist, WavEC, DTOceanPlus – Developing advanced design tools for Ocean Energy Systems
- Patrik Möller, CEO, Corpower, High efficiency wave energy – enabling a deeply decarbonized future
- Jussi Åkerberg, CTO, AW Energy, Waveroller present and future developments
- José Varandas, CEO, Kymaner, Air turbines in wave energy – the efficiency challenge
SESSION III - OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE AND OTHER OCEAN MARKET OPPORTUNITIES
Chair: Joaquin Hernandez Brito, CEO, AIR CENTRE
- Pål Bakken, Founder, SES-Seaweed Energy Solutions and SeaForester
- Pedro Encarnação, Director Aquaculture, Jeronimo Martins, Offshore aquaculture pilot project
- Karl C. Strømsem, COB, Nørd AS & Nørd Portugal Ltd, Open Ocean Salmon farming in Portugal, vision, perspectives for Portuguese industry and threats
- Harald Bjorn Hansen, Manager Ocean Venture | Subsea Commercial – Norway & Russia, TechnipFMC, Ocean Ventures in TechnipFMC
- Ricardo Conde, Member of the Board of the Portuguese Space Agency
SSESSION IV - FINANCE AND INVESTMENT (ROUNDTABLE)
Chair: Luísa Carrilho da Graça, Gómez-Acebo & Pombo Abogados
- Tina Sølvberg, Senior Sector Officer - Environment, Energy, Climate Change and Low Carbon Economy, Financial Mechanism Office
- Magnar Ødelien, Programme Director, EEA Norway Grants
- Rui Ferreira, Executive Vice President, Portugal Ventures
- Ruben Eiras, Director General of Maritime Policy of the Ministry of the Sea, DGPM
About WavEC Offshore Renewables
WavEC Offshore Renewables is Portugal’s leading marine renewable energy firm, based in Lisbon. The non-profit association launched its first major study in 2004 assessing the potential of Portugal’s wave energy. It has now successfully delivered more than 50 R&D projects - seeing more than €10million of funding invested in the sector. It has worked in collaboration with more than 250 partners in 25 countries, leading three European training networks and creating more than 80 internships. WavEC Offshore Renewables is now regarded as a private centre of excellence with a global reputation delivering a range of specialist consultancy services around the world.
WavEC’s mission centres around the development of offshore renewable energy through the creation and transfer of knowledge, innovation and dissemination. In recent years it has extended its scope into offshore aquaculture and ocean engineering projects. It has led and supported pioneering marine renewable energy initiatives around the world including Europe, USA, Canada and Australia. Its commitment is to do more and better, through innovation, development and transfer of knowledge processes.
WavEC’s technical and scientific expertise includes:
- Resource assessment and site selection
- Design conditions and feasibility
- Engineering and complex systems modelling
- Instrumentation and data acquisition
- Independent Engineering
- Operation & Maintenance
- Strategy & policy advice
- Environmental and socio-economic impact assessment
