Launching the Global Ocean Energy Alliance (GLOEA) at the UN Ocean Conference, 29 June 2022

A. Introduction

The Small Island Sustainable Energy and Climate Resilience Organization (SIDS DOCK) in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Stimson Center Alliance for a Climate Resilient Earth (ACRE) are launching the Global Ocean Energy Alliance (GLOEA) during a side event at the UN Ocean Conference on 29 June 2022, in Lisbon, Portugal. The GLOEA is being initiated with support of the Governments of Austria and Norway under the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres Program (GN-SEC). The event will also be live streamed online to engage more participants in a hybrid format. Further information on the registration is available at: https://sidsdock.org/gloea/. 

The side event follows up to two high-level events where Heads of State and Government from Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developing Countries (LDCs) made two appeals for a Call To Action! for the Establishment of t he Global Ocean Energy Alliance (GLOEA), at the sixth session of the Assembly of SIDS DOCK, held on the margins of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), on 28 September 2021, and on the margins of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP26), on 11 November 2021, in Glasgow, Scotland.

It also connects to the Side Event “Establishing an Ocean Energy Platform as a Market Place to Support SIDS and Coastal Nations to Deploy Ocean En ergy Systems“, organised at the 2021 Vienna Energy Forum (VEF).

B. Objectives

The main objective of the side event is to present the GLOEA and the benefits of ocean energy solutions as part of the blue and green economy aspirations of SIDS and LDCs to the international SDG14 community. Moreover, it is the intention to increase the circle of supporters and partners from public and private sector. The event will include high-level statements of SIDS and partner representatives, as well as technical presentations on the lessons learned of implemented ocean energy projects. The event will also feature a presentation on the 1.5 MW Floating Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion Platform "Dominique", which is being developed with support of SIDS DOCK and UNIDO under a GEF/GCF funded project in Sao Tome and Principe.

C. Background

The Global Ocean Energy Alliance (GLOEA) will address the needs of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and coastal developing countries, particularly least developed countries (LDCs), to access ocean energy technology, finance and expertise. These countries have great potentials and the technology offers opportunities to spur their economic diversification efforts and aspirations towards a blue and green economy. Ocean energy is a promising tool to promote inclusive and sustainable industrial development in SIDS and coastal developing countries in the long-run.

The projections suggest that by 2030 the blue economy could more than double its contribution to global value added, reaching over USD 3 trillion, creating more than 40 million jobs. Ocean energy, cleantech and circular economy solutions are important growth areas, which can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation, new income streams and provide public health and coastal protection benefits.

SIDS and coastal developing countries with their vast ocean territories and exclusive economic zones, can become one of the main beneficiaries of these technologies. A broad range of ocean energy technologies wait for industrial up-scale. The wider definition includes an array of renewable energy technologies using non-living marine resources or marine space. Additionally, it includes energy and circular economy solutions tailored for blue industries, including fisheries, aquaculture, desalination, freshwater, biotechnology, ocean intelligence, shipping and port services.

The Global Ocean Energy Alliance (GLOEA) intends to build a bridge between the industry, which needs to test ocean energy systems in tropical climates and Governments of coastal developing nations, which have the interest to timely benefit from these solutions. Currently, the opportunities for interaction, partnerships and exchange among these actors is limited as many operate in silos. The GLOEA is an initiative focused on accelerating the development of ocean energy projects through partnerships that mobilize technical, human and financial resources and aims to establish a global community of vested interest with the capacity to develop a pipeline of bankable ocean energy projects to serve islands, cities and coastal nations.

The GOEA will be rolled out through a regional approach. Through the involvement of our Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centers (GN-SEC) a network of focal points in SIDS and LDCs will be established. This will particularly include ECREEE, CCREEE, SICREEE, PCREEE, CEREEAC, SACREEE, REEECH, EACREEE and RCREEE.

Moreover, it is intended to build up a pipeline of bundled investment projects. The mobilization of risk capital for technology demonstrations will be an important role of the Alliance. Currently, the area of ocean energy does not get sufficient attention by international concessional climate finance. The Alliance will also focus on ocean energy technologies, which are of particular interest of SIDS and coastal African countries, such as Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). It is intended to develop regional OTEC portfolios particularly in the Caribbean, Pacific, West and Central Africa.

C. Registration

The Side Event is an Invite Only event, and is being held in-person, at the Eurostars Universal Lisboa, in Lisbon, and will be held in a hybrid format. Invited participants can attend online, via ZOOM, and the public will be able to view the proceedings via live streaming service, on the SIDS DOCK Youtube channel. For on-site presence or online participation please register at: https://sidsdock.org/gloea/ 

D. Contact

Secretariat of SIDS DOCK

Mr. Al Binger, Secretary General

Ms. Christine Neves Duncan, Chief of Staff & Project Director

E-Mail: secretariat@sidsdock.org

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

Mr. Martin Lugmayr

Sustainable Energy Expert / GN-SEC Coordinator

E-Mail: m.lugmayr@unido.org, info@gn-sec.net

Stimson Center Alliance for a Climate Resilient Earth (ACRE)

Mr. Jan Hartke, Senior Fellow

E-Mail: jahartke@gmail.com