Our seas and oceans are a vast source of clean energy which has been largely untapped so far. Ocean energy technologies which include wave, tidal, salinity gradient and thermal gradient technologies, are still in their infancy but they have a huge potential to contribute to the objectives set out in the Energy Union Communication, namely to enhance energy security and contribute towards greenhouse gas emissions targets. Since ocean energy is available worldwide and European companies are currently in the lead, the sector also promises to deliver economic growth and new jobs.

To help this emerging industry move from reduced-scale testing towards more full scale projects producing clean electricity for the grid, the European Commission's Ocean Energy Forum brings industry, public authorities and researchers together to jointly tackle issues of licensing, technical development and finance. The Forum had already met two times in large plenary sessions: for the opening in Brussels in April 2014 and in Dublin in June 2014. A high-level steering group meeting with key ministers took place in October in Paris. Now is the time to see where ocean energy stands in relation to the Energy Union agenda and follow up on the good work that has been done in the Forum already, moving towards a strategic roadmap for the sector.