DP ENERGY CEO APPOINTED CO-PRESIDENT OF OCEAN ENERGY EUROPE

Ocean Energy Europe has elected Simon De Pietro (DP Energy CEO) alongside Thierry Kalanquin (DCNS Senior Vice President Energies & Marine infrastructure) as its new co-Presidents. The pair will combine the respective expertise of a prominent renewable energy developer and an industrial scale technology manufacturer to help steer Europe’s ocean renewable energy industry sector to commercial readiness.

Europe’s ocean energy industry is entering a new phase of development in 2016 with several pre-commercial farms hitting the water around Europe. These deployments set the scene for the emergence of a sizable new market: Europe’s industry plans to deploy 100GW of production capacity between now and 2050.  A coherent partnership between industry and governments is central to driving progress.

Commenting on his election Simon De Pietro said: “Ocean Energy Europe has a crucial position to ensure that European policy and decision makers are fully aware of the potential of ocean energy and are putting the appropriate measures in place to support the industry. I am proud to be elected as co-president of the organisation together with Thierry Kalanquin from DCNS. We bring two different perspectives together, into one common vision, which is the development of the ocean energy sector”.

Commenting on his appointment Thierry Kalanquin said: “I am very proud of this decision and I look forward to working in tandem with Simon de Pietro. The combination of our complementary expertise in energy project management and technological and industrial development will represent a serious asset for the emergence of marine renewable energies in Europe. It is also a strong symbol at a time when the marine renewable energy sector needs more than ever the cooperation of all its actors to support the development of a new market, with economic and social benefits for Europe”.

Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe, added: “I am very pleased with this Board decision. DCNS and DP Energy are pivotal players in Europe’s ocean energy industry, and together cover all the angles. Their operational focus is on the sector’s most advanced markets – France and the UK. As technology manufacturer and renewable energy project developer, they bring key, but different, perspectives to the table and a wealth of knowledge and experience. I look forward to working with them both”.

Ocean Energy Europe is the largest network of ocean energy professionals in the world. 105 organisations, including Europe’s leading utilities, industrialists and research institutes, trust Ocean Energy Europe to represent the interests of Europe’s ocean energy sector, acting as the main link between Europe’s ocean energy industry and the EU institutions (European Commission, European Parliament, EIB etc) and EU Member States.

Ocean Energy Europe’s objective is to create a strong environment for the development of ocean energy, improve access to funding and enhance business opportunities for its members. To achieve this, they engage with the European Commission, Council, Parliament, European Investment Bank, and national ministries on all dossiers affecting the sector, such energy, climate, finance, grid and consenting.

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