Page 32 - European Energy Innovation - spring 2020 publication

32 Spring 2020 European Energy Innovation

OCEAN ENERGY

Ocean energy – QUO VADIS
in the coming years for a
sustainable development

By Andreea Strachinescu (pictured), Head of Unit, Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and
Fisheries, European Commission
Ocean energy, the
generation of electricity sources and additional capacity to emergencies following a natural
from waves and tides, fill the gaps when the wind does not disaster where other means of power
is at a critical point in blow and the sun does not shine. generation have been damaged. And
Batteries are part of the answer but third, there are plans to combine the

the EU. Whilst offshore wind is still could be run down by the time the generation of electricity with a means

quite expensive, clearly more than wind picks up or the sun re-emerges, to use the power in-situ for purposes

onshore, wind farms in favourable Nuclear power is also carbon free such as desalination or hydrogen

locations can now be constructed but in the period up to 2030, capacity generation.

and operated without a subsidy. will be lost due to the closure of a

Furthermore, analysts are confident number of reactors – either because For example, SEV, the main power

that the costs of floating wind they have reached the end of their generator and distributor on the

turbines can come down to match operating lifetimes or due to political Faroe Islands, has agreed to purchase

fixed ones. Ocean energy still has to priorities. Earlier scenarios suggested electricity from two installations of

demonstrate that it can compete. a levelling out after 2030 but reactors Minesto’s innovative kite technology

Brexit is another challenge in the currently under construction in to harness tidal power The Faroes

ocean energy equation in Europe. Finland, France and Slovakia are aim to produce their entire electricity

The United Kingdom has the most suffering cost overruns and delays. need from renewable energy sources

favourable natural resources and Negotiations for further plants in by 2030, including transport and

most generous public support for Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, heating. Another company, Nova

tidal energy in Europe and was France, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland Technology, has three tidal turbines

expected to provide a substantial and the United Kingdom are stalling. located in the Shetland Islands,

proportion of projected capacity by Scotland. In Cape Verde, off West

2050. Already manufacturers are So how could ocean energy fill Africa, where freshwater is scarce,

planning to test their equipment the gap? How can it build up the pilot studies with the Wave2O

elsewhere to avoid the risk of being operating experience necessary technology are demonstrating the

shut out of EU support. to fine-tune designs, increase economic practicality of the world’s

reliability and reduce costs? A first wave-driven desalination system,

Nevertheless, there are reasons to number of recent developments, This operates completely ‘off-grid’ to

believe that the outlook will improve. either operational or on the way to supply large quantities of affordable

The EU is accelerating its shift becoming operational, provide clues fresh water. The local power and

towards a zero carbon EU. Its Green as to how the market could develop water utility has undertaken to

Deal includes an undertaking to look in the next years. purchase a full-scale plant after

at lifting its greenhouse gas emission trials of a pilot-scale plant have been

reductions target for 2030 from 40% First, we can see deployment in small successfully completed,

compared to 1990 levels to at least islands or remote coastal communities

50% and towards 55%. unconnected to the grid where the These installations will help build

alternative is expensive generation up the operating experience needed

Inevitably, this will certainly bring an from diesel. Second, there is a to scale up. A 2016 review in Nature

acceleration in electricity demand propensity towards the development Energy concluded that tidal energy

as mobility, industry and heating will of modular designs, with standardised might become cost-effective by 2030

shift from fossil fuels. It will require off-the-shelf components that can if its efficiency can be improved by

a higher proportion of the electricity be installed quickly, replaced easily 40% over current expectation or if

to be generated from renewable for maintenance or deployed in costs can be reduced by 50%.

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