ICOE OEE 2026 in The Hague: Dutch Water Energy Sector Strongly Represented at International Conference
From 5 to 7 October 2026, The Hague became the international meeting point for energy from water. More than 400 participants from around the world gathered at Amare for the International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) and Ocean Energy Europe’s (OEE) annual conference. The Dutch sector had a strong presence, with nearly 100 Dutch participants, five exhibition stands hosted by Dutch organisations and approximately 20% of the conference presentations delivered by Dutch stakeholders. The Dutch Energy from Water Association (EWA) acted as local host, with EWA Chair Peter Scheijgrond serving as Conference Chair.
The international conference brought together technology developers, researchers, investors, government representatives and members of the offshore industry. The central question was how energy from waves, tides, ocean currents and salinity gradients can move from innovative demonstration projects towards commercial applications.
For the Netherlands, the conference provided an excellent opportunity to showcase Dutch technology development, research facilities and offshore expertise to the international sector. The strong Dutch presence demonstrated the country's important role in many areas of the international energy-from-water sector.
EWA showcases Dutch innovation
On Monday 5 October, EWA organised the side event Showcasing Dutch Excellence: From Research to Real-World Impact. The programme brought together Dutch research institutions, technology developers, suppliers, policymakers and international visitors.
Ruud Cino, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, opened the event on behalf of the Dutch government. He discussed the importance of energy from water for the Netherlands and the opportunities to further develop Dutch knowledge and innovation.
This was followed by short, three-minute pitches from nine representatives of the Dutch sector. Their presentations highlighted the breadth of the Dutch ecosystem, from fundamental research and testing facilities to technology development and practical offshore applications.
Research, testing facilities and the offshore industry
Deltares – Anton de Fockert: Dutch testing facilities and their role in supporting the development, testing and scaling up of new water energy technologies.
MARIN – Maarten van der Leij: Hydrodynamic research, numerical modelling and experimental testing capabilities for the development of marine energy technologies.
Offshore Test Site (OTS): Opportunities to measure, test and demonstrate offshore energy technologies in the Dutch North Sea.
Teijin Aramid – Jeroen Boks: High-performance fibre technology for strong, lightweight cables, ropes and mooring systems used in offshore energy projects, among other applications.
Dutch technology developers
Symphony Wave Power – Sander Poppes: Development of a wave energy converter designed for North Sea conditions, including full-scale testing of its drivetrain.
WECO – Cas van de Voort: The E-Sea concept, which uses wave energy to charge autonomous vessels offshore, as well as opportunities to combine the technology with wind farms.
Tidal energy – Reinier Rijke: Dutch developments in tidal turbines and the harnessing of current energy.
Equinox Ocean Turbines – Elina Douma: Turbines designed to generate energy from relatively low current speeds, with plans for an initial 3 MW commercial installation in 2027.
REDstack – Pieter Hack: Blue Energy, which generates electricity from the salinity difference between fresh and salt water, and the further scaling up of this technology at the Afsluitdijk.
All Photo credits:Ocean Energy Europe
The pitches highlighted that the Netherlands has not only innovative technology companies, but also the research institutions, testing infrastructure and specialised suppliers needed to advance these technologies.
The presentations were followed by a matchmaking session, where visitors could engage directly with technology developers, research organisations and supply chain companies. This provided concrete opportunities to explore international collaboration.
Key takeaways: from technological innovation to market development
The side event and discussions with policymakers, developers and investors highlighted several important considerations.
The Netherlands needs a clear national vision for energy from water
The Netherlands has a strong knowledge base, innovative companies and excellent maritime infrastructure. At the same time, a clear national policy ambition for energy from water is lacking.
Although wave and tidal energy are eligible for existing support schemes such as DEI+ and SDE++, it remains difficult to secure sufficient practical support for projects as long as these technologies do not have a clearly defined place within national energy priorities.
A national vision could provide greater clarity for both investors and public authorities on the role energy from water can play in the future energy system.
Confidence among permitting authorities must be built through practical experience
Dutch permitting authorities are understandably cautious about introducing new technologies into water infrastructure and offshore environments. Safety, flood protection and marine environmental protection are essential considerations. Previous projects that did not meet expectations also influence this caution.
The sector can build confidence by starting on a small scale, carefully monitoring results and gradually scaling up based on demonstrated performance. This requires experimental testing environments and regulatory sandboxes where developers, permitting authorities, policymakers and investors can gain experience together.
Government should not only assess projects, but also facilitate them
New technologies require a government that does more than assess whether a project meets all applicable requirements. It should also actively help identify a pathway towards implementation.
One practical improvement would be to simplify permitting procedures, for example by establishing a single, clearly designated point of contact for innovative water energy projects. Developers currently often have to navigate different contacts and interpretations across regional government organisations.
Energy from water offers value beyond low-cost electricity
At this stage of development, wave and tidal energy should not be assessed solely on their cost per kilowatt-hour compared with large-scale wind and solar energy.
These technologies offer complementary characteristics. Tidal energy is highly predictable, wave energy can be available when solar and wind output is lower, and energy from salinity gradients can provide continuous electricity generation.
There are also promising standalone applications, including power supply for offshore installations, autonomous vessels, marine sensors and remote locations.
In the longer term, complementarity with wind and solar energy could help reduce the overall costs of the energy system. This system-level value deserves greater recognition in policy and funding instruments.
International collaboration and visibility
The Dutch presence extended beyond the EWA side event. Dutch organisations delivered approximately one-fifth of all conference presentations and maintained a strong presence on the exhibition floor with five stands. The Province of South Holland, for example, made its entire stand available to ten start-ups and network organisations.
Dutch organisations also organised several additional activities. The Interreg project Offshore For Sure presented progress on five innovative technologies from the Netherlands and Flanders and discussed the conditions for further commercial development with investors and policymakers.
Technical visits to locations including Deltares and demonstration sites in the Southwestern Delta gave international visitors the opportunity to explore Dutch expertise and projects first-hand.
The wider Blue Week programme also introduced energy from water to a broader audience. Students from Maris College, for example, had the opportunity to learn about the technologies and the people working to shape the future of energy.
Photo credit:Ed Riksen
From international interest to concrete projects
ICOE OEE 2026 demonstrated that the Netherlands has established a visible international position in energy from water. The combination of technology development, maritime expertise, research facilities and international collaboration provides a strong foundation for further growth.
At the same time, the conference made clear that technological innovation alone is not enough. Moving towards commercial deployment requires a clear national policy ambition, opportunities for demonstration projects, predictable permitting procedures and targeted support.
EWA will continue working to improve these conditions and strengthen collaboration between technology developers, research institutions, industry and government.
The key challenge following ICOE OEE 2026 is to turn international interest and the Netherlands' strong knowledge base into new projects, investment and the practical deployment of energy from water.
Watch the video for a glimpse of ICOE OEE 2026 and the highlights of the event.
Video credits: Afryea Charles
