Portugal: A pioneer for wave energy?

Portugal Wave Energy

A consortium led by Finnish energy firm AW-Energy has signed a US$4.4 million contract with the EU to demonstrate the WaveRoller wave energy technology in waters off the coast of Portugal.

The contract is the first awarded under the EU's "Call FP7 - Demonstration of innovative full-size systems." As part of the deal, AW-Energy and consortium partners will deploy the first grid-connected WaveRoller unit near the Portuguese town of Peniche. The nominal capacity of the WaveRoller unit is 300kW and the project includes a one-year testing period.

"The experience of our dream team consortium is a significant asset to the project, and we are thrilled about this real pan-European co-operation," said John Liljelund, CEO at AW-Energy.

He added, "Now we have the site, grid connection permission, installation license and the technology ready for the demonstration phase."

Portugal themselves may not be such pioneers in the wave energy sector, as the necessary breakthroughs in device development are not going to come from within their borders - the Portuguese government openly admit this. They willingly accept they do not have the expertise or resources in hydrodynamics or coastal engineering, but they do have one of the most energetic coasts in the world. All along the coast, waves are breaking that have traveled many of thousands of miles, gaining energy as they move across the Atlantic.

At a conference entitled, "Wave Energy in Portugal in an International Context", in July this year, an area off the coast just north of Lisbon was designated a "Pilot Zone", which will serve as a testing ground for ocean energy companies.

Portugal is an attractive market for marine energy developers and utilities because most of the population lives on the western coast of Portugal, and where there are people, there are power lines. The infrastructure is easily accessible and devices can be connected to the grid simply and cheaply.

Previous setbacks and delays on decision-making by the Portuguese government appear to have been overcome, and the country finally seem ready to make the most of its wind energy potential, and attract the much needed foreign investment.

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