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NZ marine energy industry to link with US state
22 March 2012
NZ marine energy industry to link with US state
The New Zealand marine energy industry is to link up with its counterpart in the US state of Oregon.
The Oregon Wave Energy Trust (OWET) – with members from fishing and environmental groups, industry and government – is a non profit public-private partnership funded by the Oregon Innovation Council in 2007.
It aims to make Oregon the ‘North America leader’ in marine energy.
OWET’s goal is to have ocean wave energy producing 500 megawatts of power by 2025 – enough to power about 200,000 homes in the state.
The Aotearoa Wave and Tidal Energy Association (AWATEA) has been working steadily over the last year with OWET to establish a formal affiliate relationship between the two organisations.
The relationship will provide reciprocal membership and other benefits for members of each organisation, as if they were members of both. OWET’s mission is to support the responsible development of wave energy in Oregon. OWET emphasises a collaborative model to maintain the State’s competitive advantage and maximize the economic development potential of this emerging industry.
AWATEA’s mission is broadly similar: “to promote, aid and foster a vibrant and viable marine energy industry in New Zealand”.
Both organisations are internationally known for their work to promote marine energy on opposite sides of the Pacific. Now they will be able to co-operate on the development of marine energy in the Pacific, including collaborative work on R & D, industry development, supply chain growth, information exchange and advocacy to governments, NGOs, other national and international bodies.
The Affiliate relationship is the first step to establish this collaborative work. Like OWET, AWATEA is seeking similar collaborative relationships with marine energy industry trade associations in countries where marine energy technology developments are beginning to advance.
Further Information: www.awatea.org.nz; www.oregonwave.org
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