Keynote by Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Welsh Government
Room LENNOX 1
Room LENNOX 1
The ocean energy sector is inherently linked with coastal regions. The sector harnesses not only ocean resources, but also human resources – with ocean energy projects tapping into local skills, services and infrastructure. Europe’s coastal regions and their communities will benefit greatly from a thriving ocean energy industry. How can the sector and public agencies best work together to deliver upon this potential?
Room LENNOX 1
Most (remote) islands currently rely on expensive and polluting diesel generators to meet their energy needs. The high energy price that consumers pay makes these locations natural markets for ocean energy developers. This session will discuss the size of the prize for ocean energy developers in these island markets and examine the challenges of developing ocean energy in this context.
Room LENNOX 1
Year by year, the case for tidal energy gets stronger as technology developers continue to raise the bar. As more experience is generated from real-world testing, costs are driven down and electricity yield is driven up. This session shines a spotlight on the developers at the cutting edge of development and looks at what they are doing to push the boundaries of tidal energy turbines.
Room LAMMERMUIR 1
This session will consider how to evaluate the potential resource at a given site. Are local monitoring programmes the only way to measure tidal and wave potential, or could other sources of information e.g. satellite data, be used as a basis for the selection of potential sites? What is the potential of computer modelling software? Can it help in maximising yield from the existing resource?
Room LENNOX 1
The challenges of attracting private finance to fund the ‘Valley of Death’ are well known. But as markets, policy and technologies develop, new opportunities are emerging. This could be a local utility with an interest in a tidal energy PPA. It could be an institutional investor attracted by public guarantees. Or it could even be millions of dispersed citizens, empowered by the internet to fund projects that make a positive impact on the world.
Room LAMMERMUIR 1
Making the right foundation choice is essential for every device developer. This session will address the questions that all developers must consider: How to minimise costs whilst ensuring a sturdy and reliable anchor? What are the advantages of gravity vs non-gravity based installations? Can foundation costs be reduced by utilising existing or planned infrastructure such as barrages and platforms?
Room LENNOX 1
Europe has been at the epicentre of the development of ocean energy for the past 15 years. However, as national markets take time to develop, other regions are starting to attract the attention of OEMs and developers alike. Which markets are currently the most attractive? Why? Is exporting the fastest way to industrial roll-out today? What are the challenges?
Room LENNOX 1
Every new electricity generation technology has benefitted from strong public support: from the nuclear programmes of the sixties to the recent revenue support for wind and solar. This panel debate will discuss which market signals are needed to unlock investment decisions? What help is needed from the EU? Which countries will be ocean energy pioneers and reap the benefit of industrial development?
Room LENNOX 1
Wave energy attracts the some of the most innovative and creative engineer minds of this generation for two reasons: the engineering challenge is tantalising, and the prize for surmounting it is huge. This session showcases the latest and most advanced developments from the wave energy sector with presentations from the cutting-edge companies who are developing them.