Ocean energy sector as contribution towards carbon neutrality (OcEn)

The OcEn project aims to conduct research that focuses on ocean energy systems to create fair, environmentally responsible, and climate-responsive futures. Addressing stakeholders' concerns requires a multi-faceted strategy that emphasises community acceptance and meaningful approaches to the impact of ORE projects on host communities. It also requires mechanisms for evaluating community benefits and ensuring equitable sharing of these benefits.

Both tasks call for innovative approaches to gather information, discuss values and visions, and delineate potential benefits from energy infrastructure while ensuring fair representation and outcomes that respond to communities' physical, economic, social, and cultural landscapes.

The focus of the OcEn includes learning from past ORE developments, including suboptimal outcomes, and adapting international best practices for different ORE growth routes. These routes should not only focus on technical and economic metrics but also prioritise communities and the environment in a comprehensive approach to international ORE development.

The OcEn project is a multinational consortium with leading international research institutions. It aims to address the challenges in ocean renewable energy with the long-term goal of establishing an international ORE Centre capable of providing sustainable research capacity.

OcEn's partners were chosen for their various levels of ORE expertise, including those with and without offshore oil and gas development experience. This is important because regions transitioning from established oil and gas industries to offshore wind (e.g., Louisiana and Aberdeen) have different challenges compared to regions building new supply chains from scratch (e.g., Oregon and the Celtic Sea).

The integration of ORE depends on a complex interplay of natural, technological, economic, and social factors, requiring careful assessment at various scales. Past experiences with renewable energy projects highlight the importance of community engagement; opposition can arise if local concerns are overlooked. This can lead to perceived inequities in benefits, such as community benefit schemes and job access.

To achieve sustainable transitions in ORE, a radical shift in thinking and practices is needed, particularly to avoid perpetuating historical inequities that marginalise certain groups. Engaging communities and policymakers in collaborative decision-making is essential for effective knowledge co-production. The US, UK, Australia, and Canada are at different stages of planning their ORE futures, presenting an opportunity for global collaboration to address equity risks proactively. By fostering inclusive approaches, these nations can improve community perceptions and ensure that ORE benefits reach historically disadvantaged groups.