The Spanish electric utility is a pioneer in the development of projects that take advantage of the energy available in the ocean, from both waves and currents. The company also has energy producing projects underway using microalgae.

The foundation of Iberdrola’s business in this sector is wind energy, where it is already responsible for projects with over 8,000 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity. Iberdrola is the force behind a number of wind energy initiatives in northern Europe, specifically in the United Kingdom, Germany and France. This year the company will launch its first offshore wind farm called West of Duddon Sands, located in the East Irish Sea, with 389 MW of installed capacity.

In addition, the Spanish company is also working on projects using other marine technologies that show great promise, harnessing the power of waves and currents. It even has efforts underway to generate power from microalgae, such as a project at its Spanish combined cycle plant in Arcos de a Frontera (Cádiz). This demonstration facility is working to cultivate microalgae on an industrial scale. Also collaborating is Spain’s Algaenergy.

Together with Oceantec, Iberdrola is leading a pioneering R&D initiative that aims to harness wave or tidal energy.

€8.5 million has already been invested in this project, toward the development of a new wave energy converter based on an oscillating water column system. The converter is being tested using waves of varying intensities.