VianaWave: Accelerating the transition to net zero with large-scale generation of clean electricity from ocean waves

ongoing

The project aims to develop and operate a 10 MW pre-commercial wave energy farm leveraging CorPower’s Wave Energy Converter (WEC) technology. Building on the HiWave-5 and EU-SCORES projects in Portugal, the developer will validate the CorPack wave cluster concept, demonstrating how wave energy enhances grid stability and enabling industrial off-takers to purchase clean electricity. The relative GHG emission avoidance, planned at 92% over the first ten years of operation, will significantly reduce emissions compared to the reference scenario. VianaWave surpasses the state-of-the-art by overcoming wave energy’s historical cost and durability barriers. Its innovative WEC technology will offer structural efficiency five times higher than previously known technologies, with tuneable phase control to maximise energy capture and ensure survivability in extreme conditions. By clustering many WEC units around an energy collection hub, the CorPack model enables large-scale deployment of wave energy, lowering capital and operational costs for developers and operators. The project also pioneers offshore installation methods, remote monitoring of the wave energy farm, and an industrialised supply chain capable of scaling the production up to 1 000 WEC units per year by 2032. The VianaWave project will lead to the avoidance of 4 661 tonnes of CO2 equivalent yearly while delivering 28.8 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity to Portugal’s grid. This is equivalent to the annual consumption of about 7 500 Portuguese homes. The key technology pathways include electrification (clean ocean power for industrial use), renewable energy generation (a stable, predictable energy source), and circularity (scalable, cost-efficient modular WEC systems). The project contributes to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. It aligns with the EU strategy on offshore renewable energy, which targets an installed capacity of at least 1 GW of ocean energy by 2030. It also strengthens European energy security by reducing fossil fuel dependency and advancing industrial decarbonisation. VianaWave will stimulate economic growth in northern Portugal, establishing a wave energy industry cluster. It will support EUR 68.8 million in gross value added per 10 MW and 130 direct and indirect jobs in manufacturing, installation, and Operations and Maintenance. The project will strengthen local supply chains and the resilience of our economies. VianaWave sets the stage for a 30 MW expansion and gigawatt-scale projects, with cost reductions projected to around EUR 76/MWh after 600 MW deployment, well below the EUR 115/MWh average market price prevailing in recent years. This initiative reinforces wave energy as a mainstream, cost-effective renewable resource, accelerating the transition to 100% clean energy.