The Canary Islands Maritime Cluster, within the framework of the actions foreseen in the INTERREG-MAC 2014-2020 project: SMART BLUE and INTERPORT and as part of the actions to promote the Canary Islands Suppliers brand, collaborates with the Department of Economy, Industry, Commerce and Knowledge of the Government of the Canary Islands, in the organization of the first INTERNATIONAL MEETING ON ENERGY OF THE SEA, which took place on Friday, 5th April 2019, from 9.00 to 18.00 o’clock, in the Alfred Kraus Auditorium in the City of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Among the speakers were internationally recognized organizations in the field of offshore wind and marine energy: Equinor, Principal Power, APPA Marina, ACS, Esteyco, X1 WIND, EnerOcean, Wave Piston, Hexicon, Nautilus, Iberdrola or Siemens Gamesa.
The meeting gave the attendees the opportunity to learn good practices in promoting offshore wind energy in other European regions, as well as promoters of offshore wind farms and companies that are developing innovative technologies in the field of marine renewable energy, among other topics. The Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade and Knowledge, Pedro Ortega, during the inauguration assured that the Canary Islands have the ideal conditions to positions itself as a strategic partner and testing laboratory for emerging technology, related to offshore wind, and specifically with floating wind, which allows us to take advantage of the resources in areas hitherto inaccessible. Among the Advantages offered by the islands for the development of this type of energy, also highlighted “ the rapid increase in depth from the coast, the power of wind, which in much of the areas exceeds the desired speed to invest in offshore wind, and the short distance that would be necessary to cover for the installation of evacuation cables of the energy generated.”
All of them are optimal conditions for promoting the implementation All of them are optimal conditions for promoting the implementation of experimental and pre-commercial offshore wind farms”, added the Minister. In addition, Pedro Ortega also referred to the research centres that exist in the Archipelago, “which are an international benchmark, and in which steps are already being taken in the testing of marine renewable energy technologies.
During the day the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands held a conference on “Marine renewable energy: growing supply chain”, which received great interest from attendees.
The conference was a great success, bringing together more than 250 participants, including representatives of companies, researchers, professors and professionals interested in marine renewable energies.
