Basque Country Launches Floating, Offshore Wind Funding

Basque Energy Agency (Ente Vasco de la Energía; EVE) will back demonstration and validation of marine renewable energy technologies with EUR 500,000 this year, as part of a EUR 10 million aid programme for energy efficiency and renewable energy in 2016.

Under the programme, a budget of EUR 1.7 million has been set aside to support the renewable energy sector, including projects within the marine renewables field.

Eligible projects will involve the demonstration and validation of full scale, or almost full scale, prototypes of floating wind foundations, offshore wind turbines, and wave energy converters.

Funding also covers prototypes of auxiliary equipment (components), or any such equipment considered as complementary to any of the abovementioned prototypes.

The application period started on 16 April and is open until 31 October, or when the budget allocated to this effect has been exhausted.

The overall budget designated to support marine renewables projects for the period from 2016 to 2018 amounts to EUR 2.5 million. After the endowment of EUR 500,000 in 2016, EUR 1 million will be made available each following year.

Offshore WIND Staff