It is no accident that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) hosted the OEE's annual conference and exhibition this year. With leading companies such as Openhydro and world class research facilities such as Smartbay, the event has taken place at a pivotal moment for Europe's ocean energy industry, as it prepares for take-off deployments in 2016.

The event brought together more than 450 delegates of the ocean energy industry with the aim of presenting to public representatives the game plan for commercialising the ocean energy sector. This year the main themes of the conference included political initiatives, public support at EU and national levels, cost reduction along the value chain and target markets outside Europe. There was also a specific session focusing on smaller wave and tidal energy convertors and their applications in niche markets.

The 300m2 exhibition gathered the main companies, researchers and leaders involved in the development of the ocean energy sector (wave, tidal and current power). Wave energy developers such as CorPower Ocean, Wavetube, Albatern, Carnegie, Oscilla Power and Wello, and open sea test sites like Wavehub, EMEC and Smartbay, were present.

The Basque Energy Cluster held meetings with the wave energy deveopers and European Clusters from French regions such as Brittany, Loire and Normandy, in addition to Scotland, Sweeden and Ireland. Indeed, it took the opportunity to present, through the Wave Energy Basque Country brand, the capabilities of the Basque industry to meet the market needs.