All eyes will be on Ireland this Autumn as the 4th International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) comes to Convention Centre Dublin from Wednesday 17th to Friday 19th October 2012, hosted by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The conference is in association with the European Ocean Energy Association and the OES-IEA. Dignitaries, experts and companies from more than 30 countries will gather to discuss growing opportunities within the marine renewable energy industry.

The French and Canadian ambassadors (HE Mme Emmanuelle d’Achon and HE Loyola Hearn) met with SEAI Chief Executive Officer Dr Brian Motherway in Dublin recently to outline the work underway in their respective countries in the marine energy sector.

According to Dr Motherway: "Ireland has a fantastic resource in the offshore wind and wave potential sitting off our coasts. We also have the research skills and industry expertise ripe for development in this country to service this growing sector. The potential is there and indigenous companies are already reaping the benefits, developing leading edge technologies, providing components for wave energy devices and servicing the offshore wind energy industry."

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"ICOE will provide the platform to share international expertise, demonstrate the latest developments in this rapidly growing sector, and signal the importance which countries across the world are now attaching to this agenda. We are also excited about what such an exhibition means for the city of Dublin, coming as it does so soon after the Tall Ships festival," concluded Dr. Motherway.

The French Ambassador to Ireland, HE Mme Emmanuelle d’Achon added: "France is particularly proud to be involved in a project of this scale. Ubifrance Ireland (the French Trade Commission in Ireland), in collaboration with its partners, the International Chambers of Commerce and the Ireland France Chamber of Commerce, will welcome 20 French companies. ICOE presents a wonderful opportunity to highlight both Irish and French ‘savoir-faire’ in the area of offshore energies, a sector which France has been encouraging in recent years. Research and innovation, particularly in the field of renewable energies is one of the priorities set at European level and will be on the agenda of the Irish presidency in 2013."

According to Canadian Ambassador to Ireland HE Loyola Hearn: "No country is more interested in identifying and developing the potential energy offered by our oceans, than Canada. It is appropriate that this conference is being held in Ireland as Canada and Ireland share the same ocean and also share common interests in developing the potential it offers."

(CD)