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The offshore resources from which energy can be extracted are wind, currents, and waves*. According to the EU Blue Economy Report for 2021*, the Marine Renewable Energy (MRE) includes both offshore wind energy and ocean energy. In this section, you will read about wind energy widely used for commercial purposes and also about the developing technologies for ocean energy.
Europe is the world leader in offshore wind energy with over 90% of the world’s total installed capacity. This is a total installed offshore wind capacity of 14.6 GW across 11 countries. The main producers of offshore wind energy in the EU are Denmark (6.6 GWh), Germany (6.4 GWh), the Netherlands (0.9 GWh), and Belgium (0.2 GWh)*. The leader in offshore wind energy in the United Kingdom with 22.1 GWh.
Ocean energy is a still untapped renewable energy source that has significant potential for further decarbonization of the EU’s energy system. It is assessed as one of the emerging sectors of the EC. By 2050, ocean energy can provide 10% of Europe’s current electricity needs and 400,000 jobs, and is all set to become a new European industry*.
Occupation | Description |
Offshore renewable energy plant operator | Offshore renewable energy plant operators operate and maintain equipment that produces electrical energy from marine renewable sources such as offshore wind power, wave power, or tidal currents. They monitor measuring equipment to ensure the safety of operations, and that the production needs are met. They also react to system problems, and repair faults |
Offshore renewable energy engineer | Offshore renewable energy engineers design and supervise the installation of offshore energy farms and equipment. They research and test locations to find the most productive location, ensure the successful execution of the design plan and make any necessary modifications or provide targeted advice. Offshore renewable energy engineers test equipment such as wind-turbine blades, tidal streams, and wave generators. They develop strategies for more efficient energy production and environmental sustainability |
Renewable energy engineer | Renewable energy engineers research alternative sources of energy to design systems for renewable energy production. They strive to optimize energy production from renewable sources and reduce production expenses and environmental strain. They design systems that focus on energy sustainability and efficiency. |
Renewable energy consultant | Renewable energy consultants advise clients on the advantages and disadvantages of different renewable energy sources. They conduct surveys and interviews to research the demand for and opinions on renewable energy and strive to advise clients on the most advantageous source of renewable energy for their purpose. |
Renewable energy sales representative | Renewable energy sales representatives assess clients' energy supply needs and attempt to secure sales of renewable energy methods. They promote renewable energy suppliers and the use of renewable energy products and liaise with consumers to increase sales. |
Energy manager | Energy managers coordinate the energy use in an organization and aim to implement policies for increased sustainability, and minimization of cost and environmental impact. They monitor the energy demands and use, and develop improvement strategies, as well as research the most beneficial source of energy for the organization's needs. |
No | Education/Specialty | Program | University | Country | City | Web page |
1. | Marine Renewable Energy | MSc (online) | Heriot-Watt University | Scotland | Edinburgh | https://www.hw.ac.uk/online/postgraduate/marine-renewable-energy.htm |
2. | Renewable Energy Engineering ISS | MSc (online) | University of Aberdeen | Scotland | Aberdeen | |
3. | Offshore Engineering | MSc (online) | University of Aberdeen | Scotland | Aberdeen | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/1143/offshore-engineering/ |
4. | Decommissioning | MSc (online | University of Aberdeen | Scotland | Aberdeen | |
5. | Renewable Energy in the Marine Environment | MSc | Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) | Norway | Trondheim | https://www.ntnu.edu/studies/msrem
|
6. | Marine Renewable Energy | MSc | Bangor University | Wales | Bangor | https://www.bangor.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate-taught/marine-renewable-energy-msc |
7. | Offshore Renewable Energy Engineering | MSc | University of Plymouth | England | Plymouth | |
8. | Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy Law, LLM | MSc | Swansea University | Wales | Swansea | |
9. | Offshore Renewable Energy | EngD | University of Exeter | England | Exeter | |
10. | Wind Energy Systems | MSc | University of Strathclyde | Scotland | Glasgow | https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/windenergysystems/ |
11. | Sustainable Engineering: Offshore Renewable Energy | MSc/ | University of Strathclyde | Scotland | Glasgow | https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/sustainableengineeringoffshorerenewableenergy/ |
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This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101000240.
Europe is the world leader in offshore wind energy with over 90% of the world’s total installed capacity. This is a total installed offshore wind capacity of 14.6 GW across 11 countries. The main producers of offshore wind energy in the EU are Denmark (6.6 GWh), Germany (6.4 GWh), the Netherlands (0.9 GWh), and Belgium (0.2 GWh)*. The leader in offshore wind energy in the United Kingdom with 22.1 GWh.
The share of wind energy in electricity demand in the EU is 8.2% – 7.8% (600 GWh) onshore wind and 0.5% (36 GWh) offshore wind*.
Overall, Offshore wind energy (production and transmission) contributed 0.2% of the jobs, 0.8% of the GVA, and 1.4% of the profits to the total EU Blue Economy in 2018. The sector is still relatively small but is in expansion.
In 2018 the sector employed 8 976 persons. Personnel costs totaled €416 million and the annual average wage, estimated at €46 340, was slightly lower compared to 2009 (€46 841) (see Figure).
Persons employed (thousand), personnel costs (€ million), and average wage (€ thousand) in EU Offshore wind energy (production and transmission) [1, page 46]
The European Commission Offshore Renewable Energy* outlines the ambitions to deploy 300 GW of offshore wind energy by 2050, supplying about 30% of the EU’s future electricity, with an intermediate target of 60 GW by 2030.
Ocean energy is a still untapped renewable energy source that has significant potential for further decarbonization of the EU’s energy system. It is assessed as one of the emerging sectors of the EC. By 2050, ocean energy can provide 10% of Europe’s current electricity needs and 400,000 jobs, and is all set to become a new European industry*.
The following ocean energy technologies exist and are being further developed:
Wave Energy
The world’s largest untapped source of energy. The potential of annual global production is evaluated at 29,500 TWh which is almost ten times Europe’s annual electricity consumption of 3,000 TWh. Wave energy technologies capture the movement of the ocean and sea waves and use it to create energy – usually electricity. The amount of energy created depends on the speed, height, and frequency of the wave, as well as the water density. Several different wave energy technologies currently exist point absorber; oscillating wave surge converter; oscillating water column.
Generic wave energy concepts: 1. Point absorber, 2. Attenuator, 3. Oscillating wave surge converter, 4. Oscillating water column, 5. Overtopping device, 6. Submerged pressure differential, 7. Floating in-air converters.
Tidal Current
It is possible to predict tidal energy production hundreds of years in advance and they are not influenced by weather conditions. Tidal stream devices harness the lateral flow of currents by turning a turbine to produce clean, renewable energy. There are six main types of tidal energy converters:
Horizontal Axis Turbine – https://www.emec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/horizaxis-preview.gif
Vertical Axis Turbine – https://www.emec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/vertaxis-preview.gif
Oscillating Hydrofoil – https://www.emec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/reciprocating-hydrofoil.gif
Enclosed Tips (Venturi) – https://www.emec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/venturi-effect-device.gif
Archimedes Screw – https://www.emec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Archimedes-Screw.gif
Tidal Kite – https://www.emec.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Tidal-Kite.gif
Sea Water Air Conditioning (SWAC)
This is the perfect technology to decarbonize heating and cooling systems around the world’s coasts. SWAC installations are located close to shore and pump water from the nearby sea or ocean. Depending on the water depth and the season, the pumped seawater is used to cool or heat a closed freshwater loop via a series of heat exchangers. A single system can provide heating or cooling to an urban area several kilometers wide.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plants use deep cold seawater and warmer surface seawater to produce a steady power supply. Technologies target a temperature differential of around 20°C or more between cold and warm water. (See the video)
Salinity Gradient power generation is a renewable energy source available 24 hours a day. The technology called Reverse Electro Dialysis (RED) uses the difference in the salt concentration between seawater and freshwater. RED uses stacks of alternating anion and cation exchange membranes to generate electricity. (See the video)
