History
Offshore wind energy research in Italy dates back to 1992 when ENEA (Ente Nazionale Energia ed Ambiente) initiated activities in this field under the leadership of G. Gaudiosi, former leader of the Wind Energy Project (1980-1986).
In partnership with other Italian and European organizations, ENEA organized four international conferences on offshore wind energy from 1994-2003.
In 2006, OWEMES Association Onlus was founded by Gaudiosi and other ENEA colleagues to promote the study and development of offshore wind and marine energy technologies in Mediterranean areas. Since then, OWEMES has continued to build on this legacy, organizing conferences, meetings, and events, building relationships with similar associations, and promoting research and innovation in the field of marine renewable energy. Today, OWEMES is a key player in advancing the deployment of offshore wind and ocean energy in the Mediterranean region and beyond.
Activities
OWEMES has organized several conferences, events, and technical activities to promote offshore wind and ocean energy research and development in the Mediterranean and beyond. Some of these conferences and activities include:
Conferences: OWEMES has organized conferences in various locations, including Civitavecchia (2006), Brindisi (2009), Rome (2012 and 2015), Bari (2017), Fortaleza (2018), Rome (2021), and Palermo (2022). These conferences bring together experts and stakeholders from academia, industry, and government to share their knowledge and ideas on offshore wind and ocean energy.
Publication: OWEMES has also published a book titled "Offshore Wind Energy" by Gaudiosi & Tidwell (Multi-Science Publishing, 2009). This book provides an overview of offshore wind energy technologies and their potential for deployment in the Mediterranean and other regions.
Technical activities: OWEMES has been involved in various technical activities related to offshore wind and ocean energy. These include proposing the offshore Italian wind guideline in 2010, contributing to offshore wind energy guidelines and practices in Brazil with IBAMA (2018-19), defining Italian guidelines for offshore wind energy with ANEV (2020), and creating a new visual identity for OWEMES in 2022. These activities demonstrate OWEMES' commitment to advancing the research and development of marine renewable energy technologies.