Accelerating ocean energy from innovation to commercial deployment depends on more than technology alone. Strong testing infrastructure, shared expertise and international collaboration are essential to help developers validate their solutions and overcome barriers to market entry. These priorities brought 35 representatives from 20 test sites and observer organisations across seven countries to The Hague on 1–2 October 2026 for the International WaTERS workshop, hosted by Campus@Sea and organised by EMEC.
Sharing knowledge across the global test-site network
The two-day workshop brought together test centres from Europe, North America and Asia to exchange experiences, discuss common challenges and explore opportunities for closer cooperation. Participants shared updates on their facilities and activities, offering insights into the different approaches used to support ocean energy technology development and demonstration.
The programme also featured thematic breakout sessions on operational management and deployment planning, managing developer relationships throughout the project lifecycle, and enabling research and development with meaningful impact. These discussions gave participants an opportunity to compare practices, learn from one another and identify ways to strengthen the support available to technology developers.
A dedicated certification game workshop further explored certification-related challenges, while discussions on the network’s next steps focused on formalising collaboration and exploring support through Ocean Energy Systems (OES).
Building on more than a decade of collaboration
With more than a decade of cooperation behind it, the International WaTERS network continues to connect test centres, facilitate knowledge exchange and promote best practices in wave and tidal energy testing. By strengthening relationships between facilities and sharing practical experience, the network helps build a more connected testing ecosystem for the ocean energy sector.
The workshop reinforced the value of working across borders to address shared challenges and make better use of expertise and infrastructure. Stronger collaboration between test sites can help technology developers access the facilities and knowledge they need to progress from early-stage testing towards commercial deployment.
Thank you to EMEC for organising the workshop, Campus@Sea for hosting, and all participants for sharing their expertise and strengthening this international community
Watch the video to discover highlights from the International WaTERS workshop and see how test sites are working together to advance ocean energy.