Ente Vasco de la Energía (EVE) has contracted the Biscay-based wave energy developer Oceantec Energías Marinas to supply its technology for the deployment off Basque coast.
Under the €2.5 million contract, Oceantec Energías Marinas will provide its point absorber oscillating water column (OWC) technology to EVE, a Basque energy agency.
The contract award goes in line with Basque energy strategy which targets 14% contribution of renewable energy to total energy demand by 2020.
To meet this goal, EVE is encouraging the implementation of marine energy sources to the grid, amongst other renewables.
According to EVE, the marine energy sources suitable for exploitation off Basque coast are wave energy and floating offshore wind power.
In support of the wave energy sector, the Basque government has set up the 20 MW Biscay Marine Energy Platform ( bimep ) dedicated to research, development and operation of marine energy converters.
EVE has a 92% share in the bimep management company, while the remaining 8% belongs to IDAE, the Energy Agency of the Spanish Ministry for Industry and Tourism.
Bimep was officially opened in July, 2015, and is located 1.7 km off Armintza, Spain.
Oceantec Marine Energy is founded by Iberdrola and Tecnalia Research & Innovation.
Image: Oceantec Energías Marinas