AWESDI aims to promote the implementation of this type of technology in Spain, Portugal, France, and Ireland. It is funded with 2.45 million euros from the Interreg Atlantic Area program
The Marine Research Center (CIM) of the University of Vigo is coordinating an ambitious transnational initiative aimed at promoting the sustainable deployment of wave energy systems in the Atlantic area, specifically along the coasts of Spain, Portugal, France, and Ireland. Named AWESDI, Atlantic Wave Energy Sustainable Deployment Initiative, the project focuses on the coastal regions of these countries, which share significant wave energy potential but face common barriers to development, such as fragmented regulatory frameworks, infrastructure limitations, and challenges in public acceptance. Unlike previous initiatives, AWESDI will adopt a systemic approach to ensure that solutions are not only technically viable but also commercially feasible, socially inclusive, and environmentally sustainable.
With a total budget of 2.45 million euros, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Interreg Atlantic Area program, AWESDI is led by the EPhysLab group and will be carried out between 2026 and 2028 with the participation of 12 partners from the European Atlantic arc, including universities, research institutes, public agencies, industrial clusters, and innovative SMEs.
A source of energy with great potential
Wave energy is a resource with enormous potential in Galicia and across the Atlantic region. Its power density is higher than that of offshore wind and solar, allowing more energy to be generated while occupying less space. Additionally, it has lower variability and greater predictability, making it a complementary source that contributes to a more stable electricity grid.
Although its technological development has not yet reached the level of other renewable energies, recent advances have made its levelized cost more competitive. The deployment of wave energy capture devices also contributes to coastal protection by reducing wave height and mitigating erosion and storm impacts.
The project’s PI and researcher of the EPhysLab group at CIM, Moncho Gómez Gesteira, considers that “we must bear in mind that wave energy is currently at an intermediate level of technological development, that is, with devices tested in relevant environments but still far from full commercialization. Its future potential is very high, given that Galicia and other Atlantic regions included in the project have an abundant, predictable, and concentrated resource, which could decisively contribute to diversifying the energy mix and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.” According to the researcher, “this is precisely the main objective of AWESDI: to accelerate the development process of wave energy so that it can achieve a significant share of the energy mix in the next decade.”
Comprehensive and coordinated approach
Among AWESDI’s main objectives is to promote this type of energy in the North Atlantic region through a comprehensive and coordinated approach, combining research, technological innovation, and sustainable development. To achieve this, the project will establish a strategic framework of the most relevant stakeholders, allowing the compilation, organization, and exchange of the knowledge needed for its implementation in a harmonized manner, leveraging the existing capabilities, infrastructures, and expertise in the region.
In addition, an open knowledge system on wave energy will be launched, bringing together scientific, technical, and regulatory data and developing a holistic assessment methodology capable of identifying the most promising sites for the installation of wave energy systems, while evaluating their socioeconomic and environmental impacts in an integrated manner. The initiative will also implement pilot projects in collaboration with innovative SMEs, both offshore and onshore, designed to demonstrate the feasibility of new technologies and solutions tailored to the needs of coastal communities.
In addition, AWESDI will promote the transfer of technology and knowledge, public awareness, and capacity building, ensuring the effective adoption of the strategies developed. As a final outcome, the project will produce a joint roadmap for the sustainable deployment of wave energy in the European Atlantic, including technical, regulatory, and socioeconomic recommendations, as well as specific exploitation strategies according to technology and location. All of this will help accelerate the creation of a cohesive, scalable, and innovative wave energy market, contributing to sustainable development and a just energy transition in the North Atlantic region.
International consortium of excellence
The consortium, led by CIM, brings together prestigious entities such as Université Le Havre Normandie (France), the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (Portugal), the industrial cluster Pôle Mer Bretagne Atlantique (France), the Marine Institute (Ireland), the Atlantic Technological University – Killybegs Marine Cluster (Ireland), the technology company GEPS Techno (France), EW Portugal – Wave Energy Solutions (Portugal), the Galician Energy Institute – Inega (Spain), the Foundation for Fishing and Shellfishing – Fundamar (Spain), Bretagne Développement Innovation (France), and the research center MaREI – University College Cork (Ireland). The diversity of partners ensures transnational and cross-sectoral collaboration, combining scientific excellence, business innovation, and institutional expertise to guarantee the success of the project.
At the Galician level, the collaboration with Inega is highly valued by Moncho Gómez Gesteira, who considers it “fundamental to ensure the success and real impact of the initiative.” Specifically, he explains, “CIM provides cutting-edge scientific knowledge, modeling, and analysis capabilities,” while the institute “represents the direct link with the public administration, ensuring that the results have practical application in energy policies and contribute to strategic decision-making.” This collaboration allows, he emphasizes, “the combination of academic excellence with institutional implementation capacity, enhancing knowledge transfer, technological innovation, and the creation of useful tools to advance toward a more sustainable and resilient Galicia in the face of climate change.”
The CIM has the CIGUS recognition of the Xunta de Galicia, which accredits the quality and impact of its research, and its activity is co-financed by the European Union through the FEDER 21-27 Program.
Source: DUVI
