The European Commission selects two new projects for Clean Ocean Energy

The European Commission has selected two new projects on clean ocean energy for funding under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF).

While the first tidal farms are being deployed in European waters and more and more devices are being tested in the water, the idea of ​​getting clean energy through ocean waves is also gaining ground. However, as with all new developments, we must collect data, develop models and fully understand the potential impacts of new technologies on the marine environment.

To this end, the European Commission has just awarded more than 1.5 million euros in support of two new projects, which will help to understand the interaction between future devices and ecosystems. The results will serve as a guide for the national authorities of the countries, which will one day have to grant access to the maritime space and give their consent to the oceanic energy farms.

Preselected project for financing:

Strategic environmental assessment of wave energy technologies (SEA Wave) A comprehensive environmental program on four of the world's leading wave energy converters to be implemented at the European Center for Marine Energy. SEA Wave will collect, process, analyze and share all environmental data and information about the positive and negative impacts of wave devices (or the absence thereof). It will develop a risk-based approach to ocean energy licenses with efficient planning and consent procedures.

Countries: United Kingdom, Portugal, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Irland.

Wave energy in Southern Europe (WESE) will work with three wave energy devices installed in Spain and Portugal. It will collect and process environmental data and improve modeling capabilities. It will develop a license guide and use maritime spatial planning concepts and tools to assist with site selection.

Countries: Spain, Portugal, Finland