The transition to renewable energy is a global priority and, in this context, industry has a crucial role to play. While offshore wind has captured attention and investment, marine energy as a whole offers significant potential for companies, especially in coastal regions such as Galicia.
In this article we explore the industrial opportunities opened up by offshore energy, including offshore wind, but also wave, tidal and ocean thermal energy.
Offshore wind energy: leading the way
Offshore wind is undoubtedly the most developed of the offshore energy sector. Offshore installations are booming, and this trend is expected to continue, driven by the need to decarbonise the industry. Galicia, through the Galician Offshore Energy Group Asime, is seeking to boost this booming industry, which already generates 3,000 jobs in Galicia today, but which could add 5,000 more in the next 10 years and generate a tractor effect in 200 companies.
Opportunities for industry
- Construction and Maintenance: The installation of offshore wind farms requires a significant infrastructure with a value chain that meets the high demands of the market. Engineering, manufacturing and production companies are called upon to benefit from large-scale projects, as well as long-term maintenance contracts. A good example is the industrial value chain in Galicia, an area that has established itself as a reference supplier for offshore wind farms around the world. In fact, of the only 5 floating wind farms in Europe, 3 have Galician technology.
- Technological innovation: The search for more efficient turbines or the development of floating structures offer new opportunities, opening the door to locations further offshore by allowing the deployment of floating wind turbines for larger and deeper offshore areas with greater wind potential. In parallel, technology companies and startups have the ability to enter new market niches, offering new services and products for this industry.
Wave energy: innovation and industrial applications
Wave energy represents a steady and predictable source of energy, ideal as a supplement to the energy matrix. Although it is still a developing energy source, its implementation can offer multiple opportunities.
Potential applications with workload
One example of this is the Australian company Carnegie Clean Energy, which has just received authorisation to deploy its unique design, called CETO, off the coast of Bilbao in 2025. The buoys are completely submerged several metres below the surface of the sea, converting wave energy into electricity.
Another of the most interesting projects in this area is the one being carried out by the Australian company Wave Swell through Uniware. A system based on the oscillation of the water column (OWC) produced by the passing waves, which transforms it into electrical energy.
This system consists of a breather chamber that is open below the waterline. As the waves pass through the system, the water rises and falls inwards, forcing air through a turbine at the top of the chamber. The Wave Swell bet is capable of generating around 200 kW, although they have plans to create larger systems up to 1,000 kW.
Tidal energy: potential for industry
Although still at an experimental stage, tidal energy has immense potential. Not only because water is more than 800 times denser than air, so turbines generate much more energy than wind turbines of the same size, but also because tides are regular and predictable, which solves the problem of intermittency.
Decarbonisation through tides
It is estimated that this technology could meet up to 11% of the annual electricity demand of countries such as the United Kingdom in the coming years. Today, the benchmark is Orbital Marine Power’s O2 vessel, which has been installed in the Orkney Islands (Scotland) since 2021 and is the largest tidal energy turbine in the world, capable of generating 2 MW and with a length of more than 70 metres.
Ocean Thermal Energy (OTEC): sustainable innovation
Ocean thermal energy uses the temperature difference between surface and deep water to generate power. Although still under development, OTEC offers valuable opportunities.
Industrial synergies
Although still in the development phase, pilot projects and tests on this type of energy are already underway. Evidence of this is the European PLOTEC project, which connects seven companies across Europe that are vulnerable to severe weather conditions and currently rely heavily on old diesel generators to generate electricity. In this type of energy, power is generated from a cylindrical hull, a cold water pipe and a cardan connection point.
Driving economic and sustainable growth
Investment in marine energy not only contributes to environmental sustainability and the decarbonisation of our economy and industry, but can also be an economic driver. The creation of jobs in research, manufacturing and maintenance offers workloads to the entire industrial value chain, while ensuring a clean and sustained industry over time. This renewable industry, especially in its aspect related to offshore wind, will play a leading role in the 4th edition of the Mindtech fair, which will be held in Vigo from 17 to 19 June 2025. If you want to participate as an exhibitor, book your space now.