Innovation, new technologies, marine renewable energies and transnational alliances
Greece hosts BLUE DEAL Capitalisation Lab with more than 40 innovative companies and organizations involved
On 3 and 4 March, Greece hosted the first virtual capitalisation event of the European BLUE DEAL project. The main purpose of this event, organized by CRES was to present the guidelines for the successful planning of BE projects taking into account technical, environmental and social parameters.
During the first day, the establishment of Regional and Transnational Alliances based on the above principles was launched, offering a favorable environment for the development of Blue Energy (BE) in the Mediterranean Sea.
More specifically, BLUE DEAL consortium led by the University of Siena with 12 partners from 6 Mediterranean countries -that represent different actors- has identified all the critical technical and administrative parameters for BE deployment and has developed some significant results.
Marine Renewable Energy, known also as Blue Energy, which includes all the renewable energies derived from the seas and oceans, is a source of clean energy and can play an important role in supporting the Mediterranean Area to achieve its energy transition targets, generate economic growth and jobs, enhance the security of energy supply and boost competitiveness through technological innovation.
The Mediterranean Sea has a high potential for offshore wind energy (mostly floating), good potential for wave energy, and diffused availability for the use of thermal and saline gradients, whilst certain Mediterranean countries have a good localized tidal energy potential.
A supportive regulatory and legal framework is necessary to ensure that BE is part of future national and local energy plans. Existing regulatory tools in which BE can be integrated include: maritime spatial planning, integrated coastal zone management, and national/regional/local energy plans.
And, that for a successful exploitation of BE, national and local authorities must engage with all stakeholders, including environmental organisations, tourism, fisheries and the shipping sector, as well as local communities which should take an active part in the decision making and possible ownership of any BE devices installed locally.
The second day was focused on the innovative solutions presented by the more than 30 companies that participated in the Open Innovation Challenge action. 12 challenges that elicited 80 responses from companies from all over Europe.
Throughout the morning, 25 of these companies explained how to solve the challenges using their different technologies and services to the members of the jury and audience.
The different entities from the juries of the different countries involved had the opportunity to ask questions and clarify some concepts about the proposals. In the next few days they will meet to choose the 3 finalists of each Open Innovation Challenge who will compete in the final at the Business Forum in Valencia.
This session also allowed the companies to network and discover the technologies and devices developed by other companies.
Finally, all attendees were invited to participate in the next Business Forum of the project to be held in Valencia from March 23 to 25, which can also be followed live on social networks and the BLUE DEAL platform https://bluedealmed.eu/events
BLUE DEAL is a European project made up of 12 partners from 6 Mediterranean countries and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the Instrument for the Pre-accession Assistance Fund, with a budget of 2.8 million euros.
More information:
https://blue-deal.interreg-med.eu/
bluedeal@unisi.it
