Guiding Technologies to Market

Cultivating the market for marine renewable energy

One of the risks associated with developing any new technology is the readiness of the market to receive it. Our Marine Energy Technology (MET) team helps to ensure market readiness by working with academia, technology developers, researchers, utilities and fellow government partners. We contribute to the development of national and international standards for interoperability and interchangeability, establish universal safety protocols, and address key technical or general issues.

Collaboration is essential

No single organization alone could address all the requirements associated with marine energy technology development. That’s why the MET team is actively involved in a number of national and international associations and projects.

Standards development

Why standards matter

Standards are critical to moving technologies forward by providing concise guidelines for device designers, manufacturers, regulators and users. No specific codes or standards exist for the marine energy power generation sector today. Active participation in IEC TC 114 ensures that Canadian perspectives are reflected in the development of marine renewable energy standards.

International Electrotechnical Commission Technical Committee on Marine Energy: Wave, Tidal and Other Water Current Converters (IEC TC 114)

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is the leading global organization involved in preparing and publishing international standards for electronic, electrical, and other related technologies. The international standards developed by the IEC become the basis for national standards.

IEC and marine energy

In the fall of 2007, the IEC Standards Management Board (SMB) approved a new Technical Committee put forward by Canada in collaboration with the United Kingdom called IEC TC 114: Marine Energy – Wave, Tidal and Other Water Current Converters. The technical committee establishes international standards for marine energy conversion systems – mainly the conversion of wave, tidal and other water current energy into electrical energy.

Canadian Standards Mirror Committee for International Standards (SMC/TC114)

A national committee established to support the international standards development of IEC TC 114, the Canadian SMC/TC114 ensures that the views and requirements of Canadian marine energy technology stakeholders are represented on the IEC technical committee. Industry members, technology developers, utilities, researchers, academia and others from across the country participate in SMC/TC114. For more information on SMC/TC114, visit http://www.marinerenewables.ca/resources/tc-114-standards/.

Our MET team is an active member of SMC/TC114 and involved in working groups in developing standards.