PLMJ assists EW Portugal with wave power station approval from DGEG

PLMJ has assisted EW Portugal, a subsidiary of Eco Wave Power Global AB, with the installation and grid connection permit of a 1MW wave energy power station approval from the DGEG

In a significant regulatory milestone, Eco Wave Power Global AB announced that its Portuguese subsidiary, EW Portugal- Wave Energy Solutions Unipessoal Lda. has received an installation and grid connection permit of 1MW in the form of a Small-Production Unit registration approval (registration number 5089) from the Portuguese Directorate-General for Energy and Geology (DGEG). This registration approval is required for the installation, and grid connection of a 1MW pilot project at the Barra do Douro breakwater in Porto, Portugal.

The Small-Production Unit Registration approval is the first permit required by EW Portugal to proceed with the actual installation and grid connection of a first 1MW wave energy power station on the ocean side of the Barra do Douro breakwater.

The 1MW project is planned to be the first stage of the 20MW Concession Agreement entered into with APDL Administração dos Portos do Douro, Leixões e Viana do Castelo, S.A.) in April 2020, for the potential usage of four locations owned and operated by APDL.

Reception of the Small-Production Unit registration approval was facilitated by EW Portugal in collaboration with the Portuguese law firm PLMJ Advogados, and the engineering and construction firm PAINHAS, which has more than 40 years of experience providing global turnkey solutions. Upon completion of the installation and grid connection works, EW Portugal will require a final operation certificate from DGEG for the operation of the power station.

This project is in line with Portugal’s National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021-2030, otherwise known as PNEC 2030, which has set an objective for Portugal to ensure 47% of renewable sources in its gross final energy consumption by 2030.

Inna Braverman, founder and chief executive officer of Eco Wave Power, stated: “We are pleased to announce the Small-Production Unit registration Approval for our first planned 1MW wave energy project in Portugal. This is a huge leap towards the deployment of our first one MW wave energy power plant in Portugal. We would like to thank the Ministry of Environment and Climate Action, DGEG, PLMJ, Painhas, and all the other parties who are involved to support this first-of-a-kind project in Portugal. We believe that the successful execution of this project will mark the start of a new and exciting era for the wave energy sector in Portugal and around the globe.”

PLMJ advised with a Public Law team led by managing associate Joana Brandão (pictured left), along with associate Rui Vasconcelos Pinto (pictured top right) and trainee Hugo Aparício (pictured bottom right).