Bruno’s interview following his return from Ocean Energy Europe…

Bruno Lemort, Chief Technical Officer (CTO) of Ys Energies Marines Developpement, attended the international event Ocean Energy Europe #OEE24024 in Aviemore on November 5th and 6th, 2024. Upon his return, we asked him about his impressions and the highlights of this key event in the marine energy sector.

Why is Ocean Energy Europe an essential event for Ys ?

Ocean Energy Europe is a major event that brings together the entire marine energy ecosystem. Technology developers, public utilities, project developers, suppliers, testing sites, government and communities’ representatives, industry associations, and academia all gather to share ideas and collaborate.

Ys is an integral part of this ecosystem, and our presence is crucial to stay at the forefront of the innovation and partnerships of this growing sector. This event is the perfect opportunity to establish new collaborations, stay updated of the technological progresses and align our ambitions with the sector’s trends and goals for the years ahead. It’s also the ideal time to strengthen our relationship with existing partners.  

What was the topic of the panel discussion you took part in ?

Indeed, I was invited this year to join a panel discussion alongside representatives from Mocean Energy, Floating Power Plant and ORPC.

The topic ? From powering remote communities to decarbonising offshore activities, ocean energy offers novel opportunities and alternative business models. It can help islands replace fossil fuels with renewable energy and increase access to power with off-grid applications. These can become a springboard for the main market.

Presentation of TWEC-DeeP-LIFE project in French Polynesia

This discussion was an opportunity to present our Polynesian project: TWEC-DeeP-LIFE, conducted by a consortium mainly involving local stakeholders. The goal? To establish the necessary conditions for developing the wave energy sector in French Polynesia.

Key actions of this ambitious and global project :

• Technology demonstration: demonstrating two wave energy technologies in Tahiti to validate their efficiency in Polynesian real conditions.
• Local training: establishing a training center to equip the local workforce with specific skills in the value chain.
• Awareness and engagement: raising awareness among local communities about renewable marine energies to gain their support.
• Environmental expertise: conducting studies and environmental monitoring to ensure respectful integration with the ecosystem.
• Logistical and regulatory framework: collaborating with authorities to establish the necessary conditions for integrating this energy into the grid.
• International dissemination: promoting the project to facilitate its replication in Polynesia and other European islands.

What are the 3 key takeaways from Ocean Energy Europe 2024 ?

• Funding is increasingly significant and diverse:
  • Public grants supporting R&D and pilot projects have been continuing , with upcoming European calls for projects.An ambitious US funding program is also underway.
  • Growing interest of the private investors.
• Interest from the technology developers for deployment on islands where we have been working since Ys was founded, in the Caribbean and Polynesia.
• Closer to us, the strategic ambitious for marine renewable energies in the Brittany and Normandy regions were well represented at the conference, with announcements of upcoming calls for projects for wave energy and tidal pilot projects.

With a vibrant market and numerous opportunities for innovation and collaboration, Ocean Energy Europe 2024 has proven to be a true source of inspiration and a project accelerator for Ys Energies Marines Developpement.