After approximately 30 years of R&D in wave energy, several pilot plants based on different technologies are being (or will soon be) tested at the sea. This is a clear indication that wave energy is entering a phase of technological demonstration and that it may be approaching a pre-commercial stage. However a great deal of technological and financial effort has yet to be done before wave energy attains technological and economical viability. These are necessary but not sufficient conditions to have a large-scale use of wave energy in Europe and beyond, due to environmental, social and marketing aspects, which so far have not been sufficiently addressed.

Because of the large amount of work to be done, money to be spent and knowledge to be spread, wave energy development requires an increasing number of organizations to collaborate, from companies and R&D institutions to governmental bodies and local authorities, in those countries with tradition in wave energy development and also in those without it, but with significant resources in wave energy. The involvement of organizations from these countries is particularly relevant to decrease the time for wave energy to enter in potential markets when it attains technological and economical viability.

There is then a need for international cooperation seeking the split of development costs, concurrence of technologies, interchange of experiences, development of standards, share of facilities and infrastructures, dissemination of knowledge, training of technicians and scientists, etc.

Our Associates:
 

    A. Silva Matos A. Silva Matos - Metalomecânica, SA.:
    A company founded in 1980 in Sever do Vouga, Aveiro district. The company operates in the metallic boiler maker area, specifically in the production of cylindrical and spherical gas storage tanks, tanks for fuel, cryogenic tanks, cisterns and containers to transport gas and chemical products, reactors and interchangers, metallic structures, towers for wind farms and all kinds of welded constructions. NP EN ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSHA 18000 certified company.

    ConsulmarConsulmar - Projectistas e Consultores Limitada (Project planning and consulting):
    Consulmar is a large engineering consulting company being responsible for a number of coastal and maritime engineering projects in Portugal and abroad. Presently, Consulmar is involved in a proposal for an OWC integration in a breakwater head in Northern Portugal.

    EDAEDA - Electricidade dos Açores (Electricity of the Azores):
    The regional utility of the 9 Azores Islands is, together with EDP, the owner of the OWC pilot plant on the Island of Pico/Azores.

    EDPEDP Energias de Portugal (Electricity of Portugal):
    The internationally active EDP group is responsible for the large majority of electricity production and distribution in Portugal. Apart from its former involvement in the Pico OWC, EDP is willing to support ocean wave energy development. Other projects in which EDP is involved are Acquaboy and the OWC integration in a breakwater head in Northern Portugal

    EfacecEfacec Sistemas de Electrónica SA (Electronic Systems):
    The Efacec group is a large Portuguese supplier and developer of electrical and electronic equipment for a large range of applications, such as energy, transport, telecommunications, logistics, electronics, environment, industry and services. Efacec has been responsible for the development and maintenance of the electromechanical equipment of the OWC pilot plant on the Island of Pico/Azores.

    Enersis:
    Company created with the purpose to develop, project, construct and explore centres of electro producers from renewable sources.

    Generg Sociedade Gestora de Participações Sociais, SA:
    The mission of the Generg company is the construction and exploitation of renewable energy plants.

    Irmaos CavacoIrmãos Cavaco, SA:
    Large contractor with particular experience of coastal structures.

    INETIINETI - Instituto Nacional de Engenharia, Tecnologia e Inovação (National Institute of Industrial Engineering and Inovation):
    A Research, Demonstration and Technological Development organisation, integrated within the Ministry of the Economy, whose vocation is to strengthen the potential of Innovation and quality in the business community and the national technological system, in order to foster Knowledge towards sustainable economic growth. INETI has been active in wave energy research for more than twenty years, coordinated the development of WERATLAS/Eurropean Wave Energy Atlas and launched the Implementation Agreement on Ocean Energy Systems within the International Energy Agency.

    ISTIST - Instituto Superior Técnico:
    The largest and oldest Portuguese Faculty of Technology, integrated in the Technical University of Lisbon. The wave energy group at IST was heavily involved in the early phase of the Pico plant and the project co-ordinator of the EC-funded project concerning its design and construction. Particular expertise at IST are Wells Turbine technology, analytical and numerical mathematical modelling and laboratoring testing of wave energy devices. IST gas also been involved in LIMPET and AWS pilot plants. Prof. António Sarmento from the wave energy group at IST was the driving force towards the Wave Energy Centre's establishment, and has been its director from the beginning.

    LAMtecLAMTec:
    Created by the University of the Azores and the City Hall of Praia da Vitória. Researchers of diverse areas, such as Physics, Chemistry and Mechanical and Electro-technical Engineering, are willing to promote the investigation, development and training on the environment field and associated technologies.

    Martifer:
    Established in 2004, Martifer Energia had as initial objective the entry in the renewable energy field by manufacturing steel towers and erecting turn-key wind farms. In 2004 a R&D group was formed in order to develop a project focused on the conversion of wave energy into electrical energy.

    Teamwork TechnologyTeamwork Technology BV:
    The Dutch innovation company Teamwork Technology is the inventor and developer of the Archimedes Wave Swing technology, of which a 2 MW pilot plant has been built to be submerged a few kms offshore Póvoa de Varzim/Portugal.

    KymanerKymaner, Tecnologias Energéticas Lda.:
    Kymaner was founded to develop Wave Energy in Portugal. Its team has experience in this field for over 30 years coming from different areas such as consultancy, technology , university and engineering and thus constituting an unique group in the sector of wave energy in our country.
    Competences:
    - Field Management : Coordination of the project and licensing;
    - Mechanical project: Conception, detail and structural analysis;
    - Development of a client network: metallic construction, installation, tests, operation and maintenance.