One of the largest renewable energy resources, which remains largely untapped, is marine energy. Marine Energy, a growing industry, harnesses the naturally occurring energy from waves, tides, currents, and other marine sources. Having strong standards in place as this industry develops is important for the safe and reliable operation of marine energy convertors.
The IEC has established a technical committee, TC 114 (Marine energy – Wave, tidal and other water current converters), to develop standards for marine energy. TC 114 prepares technical specifications and international standards for marine energy conversion systems. The primary focus will be is on the conversion of wave, tidal and other water current energy into electrical energy, although other conversion methods, systems and products are included. Tidal barrage and dam installations, as covered by TC 4, are excluded.
The standards produced by TC 114 will address:
• system definitions
• management plan for technology and project development
• performance measurements of wave, tidal and water current energy converters
• resource assessment requirements
• design and safety including reliability and survivability
• deployment, operation, maintenance and retrieval
• commissioning and decommissioning
• electrical interface, including array integration and / or grid integration
• Testing: laboratory, manufacturing and factory acceptance
• measurement methodologies of physical parameters of the device
Marine Energy Certification
Within the IECRE, there is a sector dedicated to Marine Energy with a goal to offer a harmonized application for conformity assessment around the globe for marine energy equipment. This sector is represented within the US by the USNC/IECRE
The ME-OMC (Marine Energy – Operational Management Committee) shall involve the stakeholders and the certification bodies to prepare and operate international Conformity Assessment Schemes for marine energy conversion systems based on the System Basic Rules (IECRE 01). The ME-OMC shall support the future development of the marine energy industry through conformity assessment in order to reduce risk and increase confidence in the market.
The duties of the ME-OMC are to operate as a management committee to:
a) develop, maintain, and implement the Rules and Operational Procedures of the IECRE Schemes that are specific to, or impact, the Marine Energy Sector;
b) align the ME specific Scheme Rules and Operational Procedures with those of the IECRE;
c) ensure a common approach to the application of IECRE Scheme Rules and Operational Documents where applicable;
d) support the uniform application of relevant international standards used by certification bodies, test laboratories (including field laboratories), equipment suppliers, end users and the broad stakeholder community;
e) support the application and approval of certification bodies and test (including field) and manufacturing laboratories for the Marine Energy Sector;
f) identify technical requirements necessary to operate the IECRE Schemes and communicate these needs to the appropriate Technical Committees;
g) encourage a balanced representation on the ME-OMC as required by the IECRE System; and
h) promote the IECRE Schemes in the Marine Energy Sector as appropriate. In the course of their duties, the ME-OMC is free to form WGs or Task Groups however the formation of any Committee structure shall be notified to the REMC for approval
ARESCA could support the US TAG to TC 114 which represents the US interests in the IEC TC 114 international marine energy standards development