Press Release: Commission sets out an action plan to support the development of blue energy

Commissioners Maria Damanaki and Günther Oettinger on 20 January 2013 presented a new action plan to facilitate the further development of the renewable ocean energy sector in Europe.

A central element in this action plan will be to establish an Ocean Energy Forum, bringing together stakeholders to build capacity and foster cooperation. The action plan should help drive forward this nascent 'blue energy' sector towards full industrialisation.

Ocean energy covers all technologies to harvest the renewable energy of our seas and oceans other than offshore wind. Its exploitation would contribute to the decarbonisation of the EU's economy and provide secure and reliable renewable energy to Europe.

The Ocean Energy Forum and Strategic Roadmap are due to be set up in 2016.

• Primary Source

EurActiv, 20.01.2014: EU action plan for ocean energy set to make waves http://www.euractiv.com/energy/eu-action-plan-ocean-energy-set-news-532855

European Commission: RAPID: Memo, MEMO/14/31: Questions and Answers on an action plan to support the development of blue energy http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-31_en.pdf

Deutsche Welle, 21.01.14: European Commission urges better use of ocean energy http://dw.de/p/1Atp1

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