Ocean DEMO
Project: Ocean DEMO
Timescale: 2019 – 2023
Funder: Interreg North-West Europe
Funding: EU FUNDING – € 7.71 m / TOTAL BUDGET – € 12.85 m
Project website: Interreg NWE – Ocean DEMO
Project overview and outcomes:
European technologies are currently leading the world in ocean energy, and many devices have already been tested extensively at sea.
The next step towards commercialisation is the transition from single machine to multi-device farms. Scaling up to multi-device farms requires higher capital investments but will also improve competitiveness by reducing costs. This will prove the business case and increase investor confidence.
Ocean DEMO helped ease the transition towards multi-device farms by providing free access to Europe’s world leading network of open sea test centres.
The project, led by EMEC, provided free access to Europe’s world leading network of open sea test centres, enabling to developers of marine renewable technologies to test their products or services in real sea environments.
With support from Ocean DEMO 16 wave, tidal and offshore wind technology developers were able to test their machines. A total of 54 enterprises received support, including technology developers, supply chain companies and universities.
Through the successful demonstration of their technologies, Ocean DEMO technology developers were able to leverage over €124 million. This funding will pave the way for larger scale projects and commercial rollout. In addition, Ocean DEMO national ambassadors in France, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom worked closely with the ocean energy stakeholders in their respective countries to create a supportive policy environment for the industry.
Partners:
- EMEC – European Marine Energy Centre, UK – Project leader
- DMEC – Dutch Marine Energy Centre, Netherlands
- SEM-REV (Ecole Centrale de Nantes), France
- SmartBay (BlueWise Marine), Ireland
- Ocean Energy Europe
EMEC’s role:
EMEC was the lead partner for the project, and provided test facilities for wave and tidal energy technologies to demonstrate their technologies in the sea.
Wave and tidal energy converter demonstrations supported by Ocean DEMO at EMEC include:
- Orbital Marine Power
- Magallanes Renovables
- AWS Ocean
- Mocean Energy.
The project also facilitated the demonstration of tools and components, including:
- Edinburgh University’s C-ADP
- TFI’s moorings
Discover the stories of Ocean DEMO technology developers here.
Project news:
- December 2023: Ocean DEMO celebrates success as project draws to a close
- May 2022: Aquantis signs up to EMEC tidal demo
- April 2022: AWS Waveswing gets shakedown at EMEC
- January 2022: AWS wave energy converter arrives in Orkney for EMEC demo
- November 2021: Mocean Energy Blue X completes sea trials at EMEC
- June 2021: Mocean Energy Blue X wave machine starts sea trials at EMEC
- June 2021: Ocean DEMO opens 4th call
- May 2021: Mocean Energy Blue X arrives in Orkney prior to sea trials at EMEC
- April 2021: Magallanes reinstall ATIR tidal turbine at EMEC
- January 2021: Mocean Energy edges closer to EMEC deployment
- November 2020: Ocean DEMO awards support to 12 developers for 3rd call
- June 2020: Ocean DEMO user workshop
- June 2020: Ocean DEMO third call to focus on progression towards multi device installations
- April 2020: Ocean DEMO call 2 awards support to ten technology developers
- September 2019: Ocean DEMO hits the ground running with opening of 2nd call
- May 2019: Ocean DEMO opens first call to support ocean energy farm installation
- January 2019: 12.8M€ awarded to demonstrate ocean energy farms
