Governmental Regulation of Ocean Wave Energy Converter Installations

Interest in ocean energy converter technology has increased with the revival of renewable energy awareness. To date, ocean current energy converters have been implemented with relatively mature technology when compared to wave energy converters. Despite the novelty of wave energy, several commercial wave energy projects have recently been undertaken. However, this process has not been accompanied by the development of a legal process for developers to follow. Therefore, this paper focuses on wave energy legal jurisdiction issues. These issues are addressed with regards to siting license dilemmas and which government agencies may assert jurisdiction. Regulatory actions needed to promote wave energy conversion technology are also investigated.