ITC Report on Global Renewable Energy Markets

Some of our members may be interested in this recent Report issued last month by the United States International Trade Commission entitled "General Factfinding Investigation: Renewable Energy Services: An Examination of U.S. and Foreign Markets." (Publication 3805) The report examines global markets for various forms of renewable energy, including wind, solar, biomass and ocean, with a chapter devoted to each.

Not surprisingly, global markets for ocean energy services and
products are still in their nascency, reflecting the emerging nature of
the technology.  Presently, the largest market for ocean energy power
and services is France, home of the 240 MW La Rance Tidal Barrage,
operating since 1967.   Here’s what the report has to say about trade
and investment opportunities in the ocean energy industry:

Although
there are no comperehnsive data pertaining to trade and investment in
the ocean energy industry, anecdotal evidence indicates that such
activity is laregly focused on non-generation services, including the
design, construciton and installation of ocean power systems.  More
specifically, service providers in foreign markets primarily supply
testing and analysis services associated with potential site evaluation
for current and tidal energy projects, or for the development of wave
energy prototype devices and architecture, engineering, construction
and installation services such as those pertaining to the development
of tidal power systems.  [Report at 8-11 to 8-12]

The also report includes a fairly comprehensive chart of ocean projects and status around the world.