Mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale-up based on the development of offshore wind [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 4 approved with reservations]

Background Our oceans remain one of the last untapped large sources of renewable energy. The predictability and reliability of marine energy technologies could contribute significantly to the global energy transition. By 2022, marine energy, and in particular wave and tidal energy have reached a pre...

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Main Authors: Benjamin Lehner, Anne-Caroline Pillet, Hinne van der Zant, Simon Stark
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: F1000 Research Ltd 2025-01-01
Series:Open Research Europe
Subjects:
Online Access:https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/3-102/v2
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author Benjamin Lehner
Anne-Caroline Pillet
Hinne van der Zant
Simon Stark
author_facet Benjamin Lehner
Anne-Caroline Pillet
Hinne van der Zant
Simon Stark
author_sort Benjamin Lehner
collection DOAJ
description Background Our oceans remain one of the last untapped large sources of renewable energy. The predictability and reliability of marine energy technologies could contribute significantly to the global energy transition. By 2022, marine energy, and in particular wave and tidal energy have reached a pre-commercial phase in their development. Methods This study investigates the potential progression of the wave and tidal energy sector in the next three decades based on the offshore wind sector in the past three decades. Two different models were developed from the yearly capacity increase of offshore wind in Europe and applied to the wave and tidal energy sector. Results According to both models, the 40 GW 2050 target for marine energy set by the European Commission in 2020 could be reached if European coastal countries, including countries associated to the EU-27, adopt supportive policies for both technologies immediately. A sensitivity analysis shows further that a small delay right now will have tremendous negative impacts on fulfilling the EU goals and the contribution of marine energy to the energy transition. Conclusions The ocean energy sector shows a strong growth potential and is capable of supporting the European and global climate targets substantially by 2050. Lessons learned from the offshore wind sector can help scope and support the growth of marine energy technologies.
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spelling doaj-art-e7fd8d3c13b049bfb9c19570fbc644402025-08-20T02:16:55ZengF1000 Research LtdOpen Research Europe2732-51212025-01-01310.12688/openreseurope.15906.219897Mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale-up based on the development of offshore wind [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 4 approved with reservations]Benjamin Lehner0Anne-Caroline Pillet1Hinne van der Zant2Simon Stark3https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8919-2692Dutch Marine Energy Centre, The Hague, The NetherlandsSup'Enr, Université de Perpignan Via Domitia, Perpignan, Occitanie, FranceUniversiteit Utrecht, Utrecht, The NetherlandsDutch Marine Energy Centre, The Hague, The NetherlandsBackground Our oceans remain one of the last untapped large sources of renewable energy. The predictability and reliability of marine energy technologies could contribute significantly to the global energy transition. By 2022, marine energy, and in particular wave and tidal energy have reached a pre-commercial phase in their development. Methods This study investigates the potential progression of the wave and tidal energy sector in the next three decades based on the offshore wind sector in the past three decades. Two different models were developed from the yearly capacity increase of offshore wind in Europe and applied to the wave and tidal energy sector. Results According to both models, the 40 GW 2050 target for marine energy set by the European Commission in 2020 could be reached if European coastal countries, including countries associated to the EU-27, adopt supportive policies for both technologies immediately. A sensitivity analysis shows further that a small delay right now will have tremendous negative impacts on fulfilling the EU goals and the contribution of marine energy to the energy transition. Conclusions The ocean energy sector shows a strong growth potential and is capable of supporting the European and global climate targets substantially by 2050. Lessons learned from the offshore wind sector can help scope and support the growth of marine energy technologies.https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/3-102/v2Wave Tidal Offshore wind European targets Policy recommendations Offshore energyeng
spellingShingle Benjamin Lehner
Anne-Caroline Pillet
Hinne van der Zant
Simon Stark
Mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale-up based on the development of offshore wind [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 4 approved with reservations]
Open Research Europe
Wave
Tidal
Offshore wind
European targets
Policy recommendations
Offshore energy
eng
title Mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale-up based on the development of offshore wind [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 4 approved with reservations]
title_full Mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale-up based on the development of offshore wind [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 4 approved with reservations]
title_fullStr Mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale-up based on the development of offshore wind [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 4 approved with reservations]
title_full_unstemmed Mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale-up based on the development of offshore wind [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 4 approved with reservations]
title_short Mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale-up based on the development of offshore wind [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 4 approved with reservations]
title_sort mapping out the scenarios of ocean energy scale up based on the development of offshore wind version 2 peer review 1 approved 4 approved with reservations
topic Wave
Tidal
Offshore wind
European targets
Policy recommendations
Offshore energy
eng
url https://open-research-europe.ec.europa.eu/articles/3-102/v2
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AT hinnevanderzant mappingoutthescenariosofoceanenergyscaleupbasedonthedevelopmentofoffshorewindversion2peerreview1approved4approvedwithreservations
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