This year's thematic event of Interact's Knowledge of the seas network will focus on Blue Energy. On what is the potential for maritime cooperation, for cooperation across maritime borders supported by Interreg in the field of marine renewable energy. 

The format of this year's thematic event will be different from previous years. While the event itself will be a 1,5h interactive discussion and exchange on the potential of Interreg in the field of Blue Energy, all the information, presentations etc. will be provided beforehand. We have therefore asked various experts and actors in the field of Blue Energy and Interreg to provide their input through pre-recorded video presentations.

These videos look at Blue Energy and what is Interreg’s potential in this field from four different perspectives:

• Policy and regional perspective
• Thematic expertise
• Funding (Interreg programmes)
• Implementation (Interreg projects)

These videos provide in a complementary way a first insight on what can be achieved in the field of Blue Energy through maritime cooperation, through cooperation across maritime borders supported by Interreg. These presentations will be followed up through the discussion during the online event on 21 September. Hence, for participants on 21 September, it would be of utmost importance to have watched the videos before the meeting. The presentations will not be repeated during the meeting.

If you want to watch all videos in one go, in the order presented below, you can do so by watching the event’s YouTube playlist. But you can also access and watch the videos one by one by either clicking on the video links in the text below or in the list at the end of this page.

Policy and regional perspective

An overall introduction from the EU policy perspective and on the prominent role of regional policy and Interreg in Blue Energy is provided by Xavier Guillou (European Commission, DG MARE).

Thematic expertise 

A good general overview on What are offshore renewables? And how do they work? is provided by OCEAN, a Euronews magazine in collaboration with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fishiers (MARE). An insight into offshore wind energy and the relevance of Maritime Spatial Planning is presented by Ivana Lukic (s.Pro – sustainable projects GmbH / SUBMARINER Network for Blue Growth EEIG). Dr. Céline Dubreuil (Plan Bleu) from the Interreg Mediterranean Blue Growth Community presents the main conclusions from the Report towards a sustainable development of marine renewable energies in the Mediterranean. And also many of the other videos provide relevant thematic information on the various forms and aspects of Blue Energy.

Funding (Interreg programmes)

Interreg programmes and projects can and do support relevant developments in the field of Blue Energy. During the online event on 21 September, we will discuss how exactly this role, the potential of Interreg in the field of Blue Energy looks like. In their videos, Anke Möllers (Interreg North-West Europe Programme) and Marie Groueva (Interreg MED Programme) shed light on how the Interreg North-West Europe and the Interreg MED programmes (have) support(ed) Blue Energy. Besides general information on the programme level, both videos also look at some specific projects co-financed by the two programmes.

Implementation (Interreg projects)

On the implementation level, some individual projects are presented by their project Lead Partners. However, going beyond traditional project presentations, rather illustrating the need for and added value of maritime cooperation, of cooperation across maritime borders. Simon Cheeseman (Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult) presents the so far by financial volume biggest Interreg project TIGER (Tidal Stream Industry Energiser), Nicolas Wallet (European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd) presents the project BLUEGIFT (Blue Growth and Innovation Fast Tracked), Simone Bastianoni (University of Siena) presents the project Maritime Energy Deployment Strategy in the Mediterranean (MAESTRALE) and Anika Nikolaas Ponder (IKEM) presents the project Baltic InteGrid (Integrated Baltic Offshore Wind Electricity Grid Development).

A look into the “further” future

Finally, a look at Blue Energy and into the “further” future beyond 2027 is provided by Eloïse Faure from the Youth4Ocean Forum elaborating on the potential, on the role of Blue Energy beyond 2027.

Additional information, relevant documentation:

In preparation of the 21 September online event, please also consider the following publications and information (to be complemented):

• The EU Blue Economy Report 2021 highlighting Ocean Energy as one of the Emerging Sectors (pp. 79-88)
• An EU Strategy to harness the potential of offshore renewable energy for a climate neutral future (Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions) (19 November 2020)
• Maritime Spatial Planning and Offshore Wind Energy (Workshop report) (30 October 2020)
• MAESTRALE and the Energies of Mediterranean Sea (Comic strip)