Skip to main content ITU
Logo
  • Programmes
    • BSc Programmes
    • BSc in Global Business Informatics
    • BSc in Digital Design and Interactive Technologies
    • BSc in Software Development
    • BSc in Data Science
    • Applying for a BSc programme
    • MSc Programmes
    • MSc in Digital Innovation & Management
    • MSc in Digital Design and Interactive Technologies
    • MSc in Software Design
    • MSc in Computer Science
    • MSc in Data Science
    • MSc in Games
    • Applying for an MSc programme
    • Student Life
    • Women in tech
    • Student organisations at ITU
    • Labs for students
    • Practical Information for International Students
    • Ask a student
    • Study Start
    • Study and Career Guidance
    • Guest Students
    • Who can be a Guest Student
    • ITU Summer University
    • Exchange Student
    • Become an exchange student at ITU
    • Open House
    • Open House - MSc programmes
    • Open House - BSc programmes
  • Professional Education
    • Master in IT
    • Master in IT Management
    • Single Subjects
    • About single subjects
    • Contact
    • Contact us here
  • Research
    • Departments
    • Business IT Department
    • Computer Science Department
    • Digital Design Department
    • Research entities
    • Research Groups
    • Labs
    • Research Centres
    • Centre for Digital Play
    • Center for Climate IT
    • Center for Computing Education Research
    • Centre for Digital Welfare
    • Centre for Information Security and Trust
    • European Blockchain Centre
    • Danish Institute for IT Program Management
    • ITU Research Portal
    • Find Researcher
    • Find Research
    • Research Ethics and Integrity
    • Good Scientific Practice
    • Technical Reports
    • Technical Reports
    • PhD Programme
    • About the PhD Programme
    • PhD Courses
    • PhD Defences
    • PhD Positions
    • Types of Enrolment
    • PhD Handbook
    • PhD Support
  • Collaboration
    • Collaboration with students
    • Project collaboration
    • Project Market
    • Student worker
    • Project postings
    • Job and Project bank
    • Employer Branding
    • IT Match Making
    • Hiring an ITU student or graduate
    • Make a post in the job bank
    • Research collaboration
    • Licensing Opportunities
    • Open Entrepreneurship
    • Research collaboration
    • Industrial PhD
    • Hire an Industrial PhD
    • Innovation and entrepreneurship
    • ITU Business Development
    • ITU Startup
  • About ITU
    • About ITU
    • Press
    • Vacancies
    • Contact
  • DK
ITU  /  Press  /  News from ITU  /  We need to talk about marine renewable energy

We need to talk about marine renewable energy

Denmark lacks neither ocean waves nor pioneering scientists and innovators who are dreaming about harnessing energy from them. Professor at IT University of Copenhagen Brit Ross Winthereik, who headed research into initiatives in wave energy innovation around the Atlantic, explains why we are still waiting to see a booming wave energy industry.

Brit Ross WinthereikResearchBusiness IT DepartmentClimate IT

Written 3 March, 2022 12:35 by Jari Kickbusch

The planet’s oceans have the potential to supply mankind with sustainable energy, yet after four decades worth of research into and experiments with marine energy, the international scientific community has yet to find a way to harness the power of wave energy on a large scale. So, does this mean that the much-discussed boom in wave energy is a lost cause? Not necessarily. The idea may just be ahead of its time. The “Ellert” – a small, three-wheeled electrical car manufactured in Randers, Denmark – was prophesied to revolutionize the car industry in the 1980’s, but when that failed to happen, the idea was laid to rest. Now, thirty years later, electrical cars are well on their way to dominating the market.

History shows that far from all technologies that hold great promise are realized, and professor at IT University of Copenhagen, Brit Ross Winthereik, hesitates to make any predictions about whether or not marine energy will ever be a commercial success. Innovation in the field of harnessing wave energy in Denmark is driven by small companies and entrepreneurs. They have yet to succeed in creating a commercial success that even comes close to the wind industry’s advances.

- I don’t know that we will see an industry boom in wave energy in Denmark like we have seen in the wind energy sector. The Orkney Islands or other sites may just as well take the lead when it comes to commercializing innovation in marine renewable energy. It is, however, my hope that innovators in Denmark will show a willingness to cooperate with others and politicians will back them up.

The Vestas of waves
Brit Ross Winthereik headed the research project Marine Renewable Energy as Alien: Social Studies of an Emerging Technology – an in-depth examination of wave energy initiatives in Orkney, Iceland, and Denmark. The goal of the project was to identify similarities and differences in local approaches to renewable energy to gain an understanding of innovation processes on the ground. The research project ended in 2016, but the professor has since then followed developments in the field.

- I grew up in Western Jutland close to where Vestas was founded. Wind energy is a big deal in those parts. In a way, the narrative about the wind energy industry boom is a part of my own life story. Not least in relation to how Western Jutland is often framed as periphery. In the national imagination there is a conflict between the center and the periphery, and the popular image is one of abandoned towns and closed storefronts. I felt a need to help shape the narrative of that region because I know there is more to the story, says Brit Ross Winthereik.

Success criteria
The way we talk about technological ingenuity and innovation in what the project labelled ‘edge areas’ of the country became an important area of focus in the research project, because it is tremendously important in determining whether or not new technological projects will be considered ‘aliens’ or potentially part of the energy infrastructure, according to the professor. Politicians and potential investors cannot expect to see a Vestas of waves materialize out of thin air. Rather, we need to look at innovation from a different perspective.

- Every new innovation in the energy sector is held up to the Vestas standard, because Vestas has been enormously successful. However, even though researchers and inventors have been working in the field of wave energy for more than 40 years, we still cannot say whether their endeavors will ever be commercial successes. Compared to the boom in the wind energy industry, wave has not had its breakthrough. But we may need to adjust our expectations and our criteria for success. Wave energy has engendered a field of research and innovation, and people at many different sites are working hard to develop technological concepts. We do not yet know if they will succeed, but politicians must be willing to work with uncertainly if we are to push forward this industry in the making. We need to support mechanisms for collaboration and development of the existing technological concepts instead of just waiting for the next Elon Musk to enter the stage, says Brit Ross Winthereik.

Cooperation is key
With the increased focus on the climate emergency, Marine Renewable Energy as Alien: Social Studies of an Emerging Technology has only become more relevant. The project did not present a clear path for how to create a wave energy industry boom in Denmark, however, the analyses all point towards the fact that cooperation between entrepreneurs, policymakers, and the private sector is key to a potential breakthrough, says Brit Ross Winthereik:

- Individual entrepreneurs and inventors have not had much success cooperating, and policymakers have remained skeptical because there are no signs of a new Silicon Valley or Vestas on the horizon. The same goes for corporate Denmark. Even if investors became interested in the area, it would be difficult to determine where money should be invested. The people working in the field of wave energy do not cooperate to a significant extent, and the whole sector still seems to need organizing to ensure better political visibility, she says.

- A breakthrough for a wave energy industry in Denmark can only be facilitated by policymakers willing to take risks. There are no guarantees, only a lot of uncertainty.

Along with her colleagues James Maguire and Laura Watts, Brit Ross Winthereik has edited the book Energy Worlds in Experiment published in 2021. In the book, 20 energy scholars from within the social sciences and humanities reflect on politics and practice in the energy sector with an emphasis on renewable energy.

Energy Worlds in Experiment is available as a PDF-file and may be downloaded free of charge. Paperback copies of the book may be purchased via Mattering Press.

News

ITU researcher receives funding to improve human-centered AI

ITU researcher receives funding to improve human-centered AI

6 November, 2023

PhD student at IT University of Copenhagen’s Department of Computer Science Elisa Bassignana has received an International Postdoc grant from Villum Fonden to gain a better understanding of how large language systems are encoded with social, cultural, demographically defined information and values.

What can data driven network analysis tell us about the Roman Empire?

What can data driven network analysis tell us about the Roman Empire?

23 October, 2023

Associate Professor at IT University’s Computer Science Department Michele Coscia has secured a grant from Villum Synergy for an interdisciplinary project applying network analysis to archaeological data to reconstruct social networks of ancient times.

Ukraine’s head of IT security of the digital infrastructure gave insights in cyberwarfare in online lecture at ITU

Ukraine’s head of IT security of the digital infrastructure gave insights in cyberwarfare in online lecture at ITU

3 October, 2023

In an online lecture, held at IT University of Copenhagen on September the 28th, Victor Zhora, who is responsible for cybersecuring the Ukrainian digital infrastructure, took students and researchers behind the front lines of the cyberwar, which he describes as the “first cyber world war”.

Bent Flyvbjerg book shortlisted for prestigious prize

Bent Flyvbjerg book shortlisted for prestigious prize

2 October, 2023

“How Big Things Get Done” written by VKR Professor at ITU Bent Flyvbjerg and author Dan Gardner, has been shortlisted for the Financial Times’ Business Book of the Year.

Three ITU projects selected for NordForsk policy brief collection on how we reach the  sustainability targets

Three ITU projects selected for NordForsk policy brief collection on how we reach the sustainability targets

2 October, 2023

The IT University of Copenhagen is well represented in a collection of policy briefs, which have recently been published by the Nordic Council of Ministers’ research programme, NordForsk.

ITU researcher secures grant for personalised language learning

ITU researcher secures grant for personalised language learning

2 October, 2023

Teaching yourself a new language is difficult, but a new Villum Experiment awarded research project from ITU aims to make it easier. How? By tailoring the curriculum to the user’s personal interests and level of proficiency.

How good are we at navigating the digital stream of information?

How good are we at navigating the digital stream of information?

25 September, 2023

A new project sets out to gauge the level of media literacy in the Nordic countries, and one of the experts tasked with qualifying the project survey is Associate Professor Gitte Stald from IT University of Copenhagen’s Digital Design department.

Two new members appointed for the Board of Directors at the IT University

Two new members appointed for the Board of Directors at the IT University

30 August, 2023

Tech entrepreneur, Hanne Breddam, and Professor, David Sands, have been appointed new external members of the Board of Directors at the IT University of Copenhagen.

New research project: Studying Ghana’s digital emergency preparedness

New research project: Studying Ghana’s digital emergency preparedness

22 August, 2023

Alena Thiel has received the Horizon Europe’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral fellowship for her project, MUNDI. During the next two years she will investigate the use of digital innovations for the predictive anticipation, real-time analysis, and early intervention in multiple and intersecting threats to human security in Ghana.

Velux Fonden to fund ITU research project in digital care practices

Velux Fonden to fund ITU research project in digital care practices

28 June, 2023

Five researchers from IT University of Copenhagen’s Digital Design Department have secured 5.7 million kroner from Velux Fonden to investigate how digital technologies affect the relationship between users and care providers in the healthcare system.

ITU researcher: Generative AI needs a reality check

ITU researcher: Generative AI needs a reality check

23 June, 2023

Assistant Professor in Computer Science, Anna Rogers, is a new face at IT University of Copenhagen. She conducts research on Natural Language Processing (NLP), and her research makes it easier to determine whether Transformer-based language models, which are used in systems like ChatGPT, are reliable or not.

Are you the new member of the board of IT University of Copenhagen?

Are you the new member of the board of IT University of Copenhagen?

19 June, 2023

IT University of Copenhagen (ITU) is looking to fill two external board member positions by October 1, 2023. All candidates who meet the demands of one of the two competence profiles are encouraged to apply.

Hanna Wirman investigates how online games are used in unforeseen ways

Hanna Wirman investigates how online games are used in unforeseen ways

19 June, 2023

Games are everywhere – even in the most unlikely places. Hanna Wirman, Associate Professor at IT University of Copenhagen’s Digital Design Department, investigates extraordinary ways in which games are used for other purposes than entertainment including political protests and international conflicts.

Associate Professor Jorge-Arnulfo Quiané-Ruiz has passed away

Associate Professor Jorge-Arnulfo Quiané-Ruiz has passed away

14 June, 2023

It is with great sadness we announce that our colleague Associate Professor Jorge-Arnulfo Quiané-Ruiz passed away suddenly on May 28, 2023. He will be sorely missed.

Educating future game designers to make the game industry more sustainable

Educating future game designers to make the game industry more sustainable

12 June, 2023

A multi-disciplinary research group investigates how to make future game developers include sustainability. At the workshop, NASG Un-Jam, held at the IT University of Copenhagen, 23 European students contributed to the project by developing prototypes of environmental and cultural friendly games.

ETHOS Lab at ITU invites new voices into the conversations about IT

ETHOS Lab at ITU invites new voices into the conversations about IT

8 June, 2023

ETHOS Lab is a research community at ITU, which is deeply rooted in feminist values and wants to increase diversity, equality, and inclusion into the tech-industry and at ITU. ETHOS Lab has recently held the event Feminist Futures Copenhagen Hackathon with the purpose of reclaiming the hackathon format and invite new voices into the conversations about IT and technology.

PhD Ieva Daukantas has been accepted for a research stay abroad at Stanford University

PhD Ieva Daukantas has been accepted for a research stay abroad at Stanford University

8 June, 2023

Ieva Daukantas is working on her PhD in Information Security at ITU, and at the moment she is a visiting researcher at Stanford University, USA. She investigates formal methods and proofs for security guarantees in machine learning, and she is highly motivated by the fact that her field of research emerges from a high demand in the industry.

ITU researcher receives grant from The Lundbeck Foundation Investigator Network

ITU researcher receives grant from The Lundbeck Foundation Investigator Network

1 June, 2023

Stella Grasshof, Assistant Professor at Computer Science Department at ITU, and her research partner at Region Hovedstaden, has secured a grant of 150.000 Danish kroner from The Lundbeck Foundation Investigator Network to their research project “Automated Analysis of Mental Disorders”.

Professor portrait:  “My weird and playful approach is what drives my research”

Professor portrait: “My weird and playful approach is what drives my research”

22 May, 2023

On May 26, Miguel Sicart, Head of Center for Digital Play, presented his inaugural lecture as professor. He has spent the past twenty years working in games research at IT University of Copenhagen, and today he is considered a pioneer in the field of game studies.

ITU master’s thesis can improve train operation

ITU master’s thesis can improve train operation

15 May, 2023

Matthias Als and Mathias Bejlegaard Madsen have finished their MSc in Computer Science at ITU, and their master’s thesis has recently been published in a research journal. They have developed energy efficient timetables for trains that can reduce trains’ energy consumption, operating costs, and CO2 emissions without extending the passenger travel time.

Contact us

Phone
+45 7218 5000
E-mail
itu@itu.dk

All contact information

Web Accessibility Statement

Find us

IT University of Copenhagen
Rued Langgaards Vej 7
DK-2300 Copenhagen S
Denmark
How to get here

Follow us

ITU Student /
Privacy /
EAN-nr. 5798000417878/
CVR-nr. 29 05 77 53 /
P-nummer 1005162959

This page is printed from https://itu.dk/