IRELAND

Ocean Power Innovation Network
The Ocean Power Innovation Network (OPIN) is a collaborative industry network that has been developed by agencies in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The network’s mission is to advance innovation in the sector by learning from experts in other industries, to push the boundaries of what’s possible in ocean energy and progress innovative ocean projects in a coordinated way. To date OPIN has facilitated two workshops in 2016, held in Dublin and Edinburgh, which The SeaPower Platform being towed to the Galway Bay test site in 2016 have exposed attendees to the benefits of Open Innovation, highlighted opportunities for learning and technology transfer from other sectors such as offshore oil and gas, and encouraged valuable industry collaboration. The next OPIN event is due to take place in Belfast in March 2017.

The Ocean Energy Ireland Portal
The portal, designed by SEAI and the Marine Institute with input from numerous other groups, acts as a ‘sign-post’ to guide you through the supports available in Ireland for the development of the marine renewable energy sector. All information is aligned under six axes of activity which provide access to marine data, maps, tools, funding and information relevant to renewable energy site assessment, development and management. The website is continuously updated, and 2016 saw numerous new or upgraded features. The Marine Renewable Energy Atlas, an interactive GIS map of Ireland and its waters, was updated to include the most relevant, high quality downloadable data available. A new inventory for Environmental Planning was added to the website, which will aid developers researching testing and deployment in Ireland. The updated Ocean Energy Supply Chain Database was published in summer 2016, and currently features 120 businesses. www.oceanenergyireland.com