OceanSET: Support to the Realisation of the Ocean Energy Implementation Plan of the SET-Plan

The SET Implementation Plan for Ocean Energy (IP) was adopted by the SET Plan Steering Committee on 21 March 2018. The IP was prepared by a Temporary Working Group (TWG), with representatives of the European Commission, Member States and other stakeholders. For the implementation of the IP, the TWG has evolved to take on the role of an Implementation Working Group (IWG).

To date, support to the EO sector has focused on the development of research and roadmaps that have set out the aspirations of the wave and tidal sector.a The principle of the IP is to transform these aspirations into operational actions. The actions listed in the IP are mainly based on the Strategic Ocean Energy Roadmap, which has been agreed by the EC, Member States, regions, stakeholders and the wider ocean energy sector.

The ambition of the IP is to outline a structured approach that will enable wave and tidal technologies to follow a credible development path, with the ultimate destination of a commercially viable industry and products. The target timescale presented in the IP is 2025 for tidal technologies and 2030 for wave technologies.

OceanSET will help the IWG to continue its work to meet the objectives set out in the IP. In particular, OceanSET will focus on assessing progress in the ocean energy sector and will monitor national and EU-funded projects to provide successful support. Relevant data will be collected annually and used to inform Member States and the EU Commission on the progress of the sector, as well as to review what works and what does not, and to assess how to maximise the benefit of the funding flows provided in Member States, regions and the EC.

Partners in this project include representatives from Ireland (SEAI), UK (WES, University of Edinburgh), France (FEM), Portugal (DGEG), Spain (EVE, PLOCAN), Italy (ENEA) and industry (OEE). The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) will be the project coordinator.