INTRODUCTION
Sea test sites are being developed in several countries around the world, beeing the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, in the UK, the most advanced one. These sites allow developers to test components, concepts or full scale devices in an open sea environment.
The development of open sea testing facilities is seen as a valuable policy measure. Such infrastructures encourages ocean energy development by enabling practical experience of installation, operation, maintenance and decommissioning activities for full-scale prototypes and farms, as well as for developing services and streamlining procedures.
NATIONAL STRATEGY
In Portugal, the Ministry of the Sea is responsible for defining policies encouraging the development of new activities in the sea that maximize the use of its resources, generating economic value in a sustainable model. In this sense, the Government programme has a medium- and long-term strategy for the use of the resources of the sea, in which renewable marine energy (wave and offshore wind) is of special relevance.
OPEN SEA TEST SITES IN PORTUGAL
POLICIES