OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems
OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems
OES Annual Report 2012 - Ocean Energy Systems
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3<br />
01 / INTRODUCTION<br />
1.3 / OCEAN ENERGY SYSTEMS<br />
The <strong>Ocean</strong> <strong>Energy</strong> <strong>Systems</strong> Implementing Agreement (<strong>OES</strong>) is an intergovernmental collaboration between<br />
countries, to advance research, development and demonstration of technologies to harness energy from all<br />
forms of ocean renewable resources, such as tides, waves, currents, temperature gradient (ocean thermal<br />
energy conversion and submarine geothermal energy) and salinity gradient for electricity generation, as<br />
well as for other uses, such as desalination, through international co-operation and information exchange.<br />
The <strong>OES</strong> covers all forms of energy generation, in which seawater forms the motive power, through its<br />
physical and chemical properties (Figure 1). It does not presently cover offshore wind generation, since<br />
seawater is not the motive power (offshore wind is covered by the Wind <strong>Energy</strong> Implementing Agreement).<br />
<strong>Ocean</strong> <strong>Energy</strong><br />
Tidal Rise<br />
& Fall<br />
Tidal / <strong>Ocean</strong><br />
Currents<br />
Waves<br />
Salinity<br />
Gradient<br />
Thermal<br />
Gradient<br />
FIG. 1: Principal Forms of <strong>Ocean</strong> <strong>Energy</strong><br />
IEA Implementing Agreements (IAs) operate on a 5-year period called a “term”. Before completion of a<br />
term, an IA’s ExCo can apply for a further 5-year mandate. The grant of a new term involves the submission<br />
by the ExCo of an End-of-Term <strong>Report</strong>, summarizing how the IA fulfilled the aims of its past Strategic Plan,<br />
and a new Strategic Plan for the next term.<br />
The current term of <strong>OES</strong> expired on 28 February <strong>2012</strong>. Thus, a request for a new 5-year term, including<br />
the End-of-Term <strong>Report</strong> and a new Strategic Plan, had been submitted to the IEA’s Committee on <strong>Energy</strong><br />
Research and Technology (CERT) in July 2011, and was approved on 1 February <strong>2012</strong>.<br />
The <strong>OES</strong> international co-operation facilitates:<br />
ÌÌ<br />
Securing access to advanced R & D teams in the participating countries<br />
ÌÌ<br />
Developing a harmonized set of measures and testing protocols for the testing of prototypes<br />
ÌÌ<br />
Reducing national costs by collaborating internationally<br />
ÌÌ<br />
Creating valuable international contacts between government, industry and science<br />
The ExCo is continuing to develop a suite of information dissemination tools that will assist the <strong>OES</strong> in<br />
becoming a leading international authority on ocean energy. <strong>Ocean</strong> energy remains an emerging technology<br />
area and will continue to benefit from the existence of the international collaboration mechanism offered<br />
under the Implementing Agreement contract.