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A new collaborative network between Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland has been launched to advance the development of ocean energy and drive technology innovation. Led by three state bodies – the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Invest Northern Ireland and Scottish Enterprise – the new Ocean Power Innovation Network (OPIN) is hosting its inaugural meeting in Dublin today.

The network’s mission is to advance innovation by learning from experts in other industries, to push the boundaries of what’s possible in ocean energy and progress innovative ocean projects in a coordinated way.   It will focus on collaborative initiatives, knowledge sharing, applied learning and creative thinking in ocean energy technology development.

Today’s first OPIN session, sponsored by ESB who also supported the development of the network, will be attended by fifty experts from within the ocean energy sector and beyond.  Participating at the event are professionals from oil and gas exploration, marine engineering, wave and tidal technologies and data analytics to name a few.

Commenting, Head of Emerging Sectors with SEAI, Declan Meally said: “The coasts of Ireland and Scotland have an abundant supply of ocean energy. Pooling resources, knowledge and experience between us and collaborating outside of the ocean energy sector means we can bring best practices together to drive development in ocean energy.  The countries that can innovate in this space, with regard to both technology and its interaction with the natural and the human environment, will have a real advantage globally and we want to ensure that Ireland is at the forefront in achieving its potential and maximising our renewable resources.”

Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland already have a strong working relationship when it comes to ocean energy through initiatives such as the all-island Marine Renewables Industry Association and the OCEANERA-NET group of agencies which have launched a joint call to support transnational ocean projects. The activities of many ocean energy companies span the three jurisdictions. For example, OpenHydro, based in Greenore, Co. Louth, has tested its tidal turbine at the European Marine Energy Centre in the Orkney Islands, Scotland and plans to develop a commercial scale 100 MW tidal energy array in the waters off Torr Head in County Antrim,  Northern Ireland.

Jan Reid, Senior Manager, Marine Energy and Low Carbon Technologies at Scottish Enterprise, said: “Our oceans provide a natural resource for renewable energy and although there have been many achievements and world firsts to date, the future of the industry will be shaped in the coming decade.  This initiative allows Scotland and Ireland to come together to build a strong value chain for marine energy, in addition to existing collaborations, and encourages companies to share and learn from well-established industries to accelerate their development towards future sustainable success.”