A real-sea demonstration site for offshore renewable energy technologies
Located off the coast of Aguçadoura (Póvoa de Varzim), in Northern Portugal, CEO’s (Companhia de Energia Oceânica) test site is a dedicated offshore and onshore platform supporting the development and validation of marine energy technologies under real Atlantic Ocean conditions.
It is a critical asset for advancing sustainable ocean innovation and strengthening the Blue Economy.
Role in Ocean Research and Engineering
This site enables full-scale testing of systems for energy harvesting, offshore power integration, and environmental monitoring. Its location offers optimal exposure to ocean dynamics, making it ideal for piloting innovative offshore renewable energy solutions.
Capabilities and Infrastructure
The CEO test site is fully equipped to support real-sea experimentation of offshore renewable energy technologies under Atlantic conditions. It offers stable and controlled access for prototype deployment and includes essential grid infrastructure for data and power integration.
Key features include:
- Grid connection system with 60 kV transmission voltage, for real-time integration and monitoring of energy output from test devices
- Land-based electrical substation allowing safe control and routing of offshore energy flows
- Submarine cable system for transmitting power from sea to shore, with accurate performance tracking
- Mooring and anchoring systems adaptable to a variety of technology scales and configurations
- Onshore operational support including access roads, monitoring stations, and integration with INESC TEC’s remote data systems
- Data acquisition infrastructure to support performance analysis, environmental monitoring, and validation reporting
A Living Lab for the Blue Economy
The CEO site acts as a bridge between research, industry, and public policy. It allows developers and researchers to:
- Accelerate technology readiness levels (TRLs)
- Evaluate performance under operational conditions
- Assess sustainability metrics and environmental impact
- Contribute to regional and EU energy transition goals
Strategic Impact
The Aguçadoura platform positions Portugal at the forefront of offshore renewable energy in Europe. By enabling real-sea experimentation, it supports technology transfer, industry collaboration, and the validation of solutions aligned with climate resilience and zero-carbon strategies.
Get in touch with
CEO - Companhia de Energia Oceânica
CEO HEADQUARTERS
INESC TEC
Campus da Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto
Rua Dr. Roberto Frias
4200-465 Porto
Portugal
