Navigating International Waters: Lessons For Marine Energy Testing

A recent report published by the International Energy Agency’s Ocean Energy Systems Technology Collaboration Programme (IEA-OES) reflects on international collaboration between marine energy test centres - which offer specialized testing facilities for tidal and wave energy developers - over the last decade or so.

The International WaTERS (Wave and Tidal Energy Test Sites) network, founded in 2013, has enabled test centres in the UK, Europe, the US, Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Chile and Mexico to exchange ideas, share learning and address common barriers. The report provides a summary of lessons learned across a wide range of topics, including accredited testing, environmental monitoring, logistics, health and safety, decommissioning, community relations, collaboration and funding, and offers a fascinating glimpse into the key challenges faced by test centres around the world.