Ocean Energy Europe has elected Thierry Kalanquin (DCNS) and Simon de Pietro (DP Energy) as its new co-Presidents. The pair will combine the expertise of an industrial scale technology manufacturer and a prominent renewable energy developer 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.
“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”, said Simon De Pietro from DP Energy.
“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”, commented Thierry Kalanquin, DCNS Senior Vice President Energies & Marine infrastructure.
“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”, said Rémi Gruet, CEO of Ocean Energy Europe.”
“I would also like to thank out-going President, Rob Stevenson, for his service and guidance both to OEE and the sector in the last 2 years”, added Gruet.
With a background in the automotive industry, Thierry Kalanquin joined the DCNS Group in 2010 as the Director of the Services Division. In 2014, he became Senior Vice-president for Energies & Marine Infrastructure, taking control of all ocean energy activities. He is also the Non-executive Chairman of OpenHydro, a DCNS company, and world leader in tidal stream technology.
Simon De Pietro is CEO and owner/director of DP Energy, which has interests in wind, solar and tidal projects in Europe, Australia and Canada. Simon has been involved in the energy business all his working life. He has a background in mechanical engineering, gas turbines and conventional power generation. His passion for the environment and a commitment to improving the overall global energy mix led Simon to join his mother Maureen in establishing pioneering renewable energy company DP Energy more than 2 decades ago.
The full press release can be downloaded here.