IEA-OES publish findings from 10 years of International WaTERS

Commissioned by IEA-OES and prepared by EMEC, the publication highlights how test centres can accelerate ocean energy through collaboration, adaptive regulation and targeted investment

The International Energy Agency’s Ocean Energy Systems Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA-OES) has published the report International WaTERS: Summary of Findings and Lessons Learned.

Commissioned by the IEA-OES Executive Committee and prepared by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), the report consolidates more than a decade of international collaboration between leading open-sea marine energy test centres worldwide.

The International WaTERS (Wave and Tidal Energy Test Research Sites) network was established in 2013 to connect test centres, share experience, and address common technical, regulatory, environmental, and financial challenges. Drawing on workshops and exchanges held between 2013 and 2024, the report provides a structured overview of the network’s evolution and the lessons learned that can inform future policy, investment, and deployment. As outlined in the Executive Summary, marine energy test centres have evolved from single-technology wave and tidal facilities into multi-technology innovation hubs. Today, many centres support hydrogen production, energy storage, and advanced environmental monitoring alongside ocean energy devices.

Matthijs Soede, Chairman of IEA-OES, said:
“As IEA-OES we are very happy with the global collaboration between test centres. Test centres are providing important (research) infrastructure for developers, and these developers can benefit from the knowledge and experience which they have built up over the years. The International WaTERS is focused on turning shared experience into practical guidance that helps countries and stakeholders accelerate learning and lower barriers for ocean energy.”

Dernis Mediavilla, Head of Innovation at EMEC, said:
“International WaTERS exists to ensure that test centres are not solving the same problems in isolation. This report brings together what the network has learned – and where collaboration can make the biggest difference.”

The report underlines that adaptability, collaboration, and evidence-based planning are essential for reducing risk and building investor and regulatory confidence in ocean energy. The report concludes that continued investment in shared infrastructure, knowledge exchange, and coordinated action will be critical to advancing marine energy towards commercial maturity and delivering economic, environmental, and social benefits worldwide.

The report is available to download here: International WaTERS: Summary of Findings and Lessons Learned.