EC FPVI co-ordinated action on ocean energy: A European platform for sharing technical information and research outcomes in wave and tidal energy systems C.M. Johnstone a, * , K. Nielsen b , T. Lewis c , A. Sarmento d , G. Lemonis e a Energy Systems Research Unit, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XJ, UK b Ramboll, Virim, Denmark c University College Cork, Cork, Ireland d Wave Energy Centre, Lisbon, Portugal e Centre for Renewable Energy Sources, Pikermi, Attika, Greece Received 4 February 2005; accepted 27 July 2005 Available online 6 October 2005 Abstract Energy from the oceans has the potential to make major contributions towards renewable energy targets being adopted by European Governments over the next 10–15 years. To transform this from a possibility into a reality within the time frames requires numerous support frameworks to be implemented which assist research and demonstration programmes and stimulated the sharing of knowledge and resource information between all relevant parties. The EC funded Co-ordinated Action on Ocean Energy puts into place funding and a platform to enables device developers, wave and tidal energy researchers and standards agencies to share knowledge and information which will facilitate the transition of wave and tidal energy from an energy research technology to one approaching commercial competitiveness within the medium-term time frame, 2010–2015. q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Wave power; Tidal energy; Technology development and standards 1. Introduction Ocean energy industries and research organisations are small in number and scattered geographically across North America, Europe and Asia. Existing research and development Renewable Energy 31 (2006) 191–196 www.elsevier.com/locate/renene 0960-1481/$ - see front matter q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2005.08.015 * Corresponding author. Tel.: C44 141 548 3788; fax: C44 141 552 5105. E-mail address: cameron@esru.strath.ac.uk (C.M. Johnstone).