WEDUSEA Is proud to count the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) as a key partner in
our pioneering wave energy project. You can find out more about EMEC in our earlier blog
article https://wedusea.eu/spotlight-on-emec-a-key-wedusea-partner/
EMEC is the test centre for WEDUSEA, setting out to demonstrate the commercial viability of
our innovative OE 35 wave energy device.
A new report, commissioned by IEA-OES (International Energy Agency Ocean Energy
Systems) and prepared by EMEC, was published in April 2026. It captures over a decade of
insights from wave and tidal energy test centres around the globe.
The report shares the key findings from International WaTERS, a network of wave and tidal
energy research sites established by EMEC in 2013. The aim of the network is to connect
test centres, share experience and address common technical, regulatory, environmental
and financial challenges.
It is interesting to reflect on the important role of test centres worldwide as well as note the
degree to which adaptability and collaboration are pivotal to their success.
Bringing together findings from across Europe, the Americas and Asia – the new report
provides an overview of the network’s evolution and lessons learned to inform future policy,
investment and deployment.
So what are the key findings of the International WaTERS report?
Adaptability, collaboration and evidence-based planning are highlighted as essential for
reducing risk and building investor and regulatory confidence in ocean energy. Test
centres are shown to play a leading role in environmental monitoring, adaptive
management and risk-based consenting, alongside advocating for open data sharing and
standardised protocols to reduce regulatory friction.
Early, transparent engagement with communities, fisheries and regulators is central to
securing social licence and building long-term trust.
The report concludes that continued investment in shared infrastructure, knowledge
exchange and coordinated action will be critical to advancing marine energy towards
commercial maturity and delivering economic, environmental and social benefits
worldwide.
Matthijs Soede, Chairman of IEA-OES, said:
“Test centres are providing important research infrastructure for developers, and these
developers can benefit from the knowledge and experience which they have built up over
the years. International WaTERS is focused on turning shared experience into practical
guidance that helps countries and stakeholders accelerate learning and lower barriers for
ocean energy.”
Dernis Mediavilla, Head of Innovation at EMEC, said:
“International WaTERS exists to ensure that test centres are not solving the same problems
in isolation. This report brings together what the network has learned – and where
collaboration can make the biggest difference.”
The report also provides a foundation for evidence-based policy recommendations. These
aim to advance regulatory frameworks, streamline consenting processes, strengthen
stakeholder engagement, improve offshore operations and promote data sharing.
At WEDUSEA, we are pleased that our project stands to benefit from this extensive
collective experience of test centres, as we all work together to accelerate the development
of sustainable ocean energy technologies.
The principles of adaptability and collaboration are at the heart of International WaTERS
and these important principles also drive WEDUSEA, a partnership of 14 organisations
spanning industry and academia from across Ireland, the UK, France, Germany and Spain.
As Charles Darwin said: “In the long history of humankind those who learned to collaborate
and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”
The report is available to download here: International WaTERS: Summary of Findings and
Lessons Learned
