Ocean Renewable Energy Test Centers

Much progress has been made in recent decades in harnessing energy from the ocean, particularly from waves and tides, with the aim of providing clean, renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Recent advances in the offshore renewable energy (ORE) industry can largely be attributed to ocean energy test centers. The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Scotland has so far hosted over 30 marine energy devices and has become a blueprint for test centers around the world. Other test centers such as the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE) and the Pacific Marine Energy Centre (PMEC) also play a crucial role in advancing the industry and closing the gaps in knowledge relating to ORE. Through pre-consented test sites and facilities, ocean energy test centers allow developers to test their devices at reduced cost and risk, allowing them to attract further investment. In this chapter we introduce ORE test centers with a focus on EMEC, and offer insights into their role in boosting the wave and tidal energy industry.