Highlights
- Decisive moment for offshore wind in Atlantic as Portugal pivots to define conditions' making floating wind cost-competitive and sustainable
- Meanwhile, Petrobras (Brazil's state oil & gas major) opens tenders for offshore wind studies signalling Brazil's acceleration into offshore renewables
- Research-industry collaboration will take centre stage, showcasing how innovation is accelerating floating wind commercialisation
- High-profile speakers to highlight cross-border industrial synergies, shared manufacturing and supply chain strategies
This year's edition takes place at a decisive moment for offshore wind in the Atlantic. Following recent statements from Portugal's Ministry of Environment and Energy Transition that offshore wind development will advance only when it becomes economically viable, focus has now shifted toward defining conditions needed to make floating wind both cost-competitive and sustainable. Meanwhile, Brazil's energy sector is moving steadily forward, with major oil and gas players including Petrobras investing in feasibility studies, pilot initiatives and early regulatory frameworks.
The seminar is proudly supported by leading energy, engineering and industrial organizations. Sponsors include ATE (Aliança para a Transição Energética), ISQ, Miranda & Associados, DNV, ETERMAR Energia, ERM, Grupo ETE and MDS, with support of the EU Funded project WindTwin. Strategic partners include Qair Offshore, and TYPSA Offshore Energy, while Gazelle Wind Power, CorPower Ocean, SAITEC and Veritas Group further reinforce the event's collaborative spirit. Many of these companies are also contributing speakers, offering attendees firsthand insights into industrial strategy, project financing, technological innovation, and the growing opportunities in the transatlantic floating wind sector.
In this evolving landscape, WavEC Lisbon 2025 will act as a bridge for continuous progress, uniting policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders from both sides of the Atlantic to explore how technological innovation, market design and industrial cooperation can come together to advance the floating offshore wind sector. The seminar will focus on ensuring companies and supply chains are ready to deliver when market conditions align and auctions resume, fostering an ecosystem of collaboration that continues despite temporary national slowdowns.
The event builds on more than 15 years of close collaboration between Portugal and Brazil in ocean energy research and industrial cooperation. Since its founding, WavEC Offshore Renewables has been a key player in strengthening this transatlantic relationship, working with Brazilian universities, government agencies, and companies to develop joint projects and exchange expertise in offshore engineering and renewable energy innovation.
Marco Alves, CEO of WavEC Offshore Renewables, said: "This seminar is about looking beyond the immediate horizon. While policies and markets evolve, Portugal and Brazil are laying the groundwork for long-term success in floating offshore wind. By combining research excellence with industrial readiness, we can ensure that when auctions and projects begin, both countries have the technologies, supply chains, and capabilities in place to deliver clean, reliable energy at scale."
Elbia Gannoum, CEO of ABEEólica, an association supporting wind energy projects in Brazil, said: "Portugal and Brazil have more than language and history, we share an ocean of opportunity. Through collaboration in research, policy, and industry, we can ensure that floating wind becomes not only feasible, but sustainable and economically viable for both nations and their coastal communities."
Andreia Fernandes, Executive Director of ATE (Aliança para a Transição Energética) said: "Portugal and Brazil share more than a maritime legacy; they share a pivotal mission in the global energy transition: shaping a sustainable blue economy through offshore renewables. By leveraging their combined technological capabilities and natural resources, these nations are poised to unlock immense potential. ATE is proud to support this vision as a gold sponsor of WavEC Lisbon 2025, facilitating the strategic connections needed to drive forward a truly competitive and sustainable offshore energy market."
Floating offshore wind remains one of the most promising frontiers in the clean energy transition, capable of delivering large-scale renewable power while driving industrial and regional development. However, achieving commercial viability requires strong coordination between research, policy, and business - a central theme of the WavEC Lisbon 2025 seminar. The event will highlight how breakthroughs in technology, such as advanced mooring systems, digital monitoring and hybrid energy platforms, can reduce costs and improve reliability. It will also focus on how companies can prepare now by developing the infrastructure, partnerships, and expertise needed to seize future opportunities.
The full-day programme is organised into four thematic sessions:
- The first, Investment and Financing Opportunities, will bring together government, financial, and industry experts to discuss how to create viable business models for offshore renewables. Moderator: Sara Castelo Branco, Partner at Miranda & Associados. Speakers: DNV Market Segment Manager Daniela Ribeiro; CERNE Chairman Jean-Paul Prates; ABEEólica CEO Elbia Gannoum; APREN CEO Pedro Amaral Jorge; and Cristina Ortuño, ERM Iberia Consulting Partner.
- The second session, Joint Industrial Development and Supply Chain Cooperation, will examine how Iberia and Brazil can coordinate manufacturing, port infrastructure, and logistics to build competitive transatlantic supply chains. Moderator: Ricardo Morgado, CEO, WAM Horizon. Confirmed speakers: SAITEC COO David Carrascosa; TYPSA Offshore Energy Director Javier Abanades; and Qair Offshore Director Pablo Alcón.
- The third session, Driving Innovation: From Research to Market Readiness, will explore how R&D can accelerate the commercialisation of floating wind technologies. Moderator: João Maciel, Managing Director of EDP's Centre for New Energy Technologies. Speakers: ATE - Aliança para a Transição Energética CEO Andreia Fernandes; Gazelle Wind Power CFO Álvaro Ortega; CorPower Ocean Country Manager Iberia Manuel Rocha; Indico Capital Partner André de Almeida Santos; and WavEC Offshore Wind Specialist Ricardo Pereira, representing the EU Funded project WindTwind.
- Finally, Building Sustainable Offshore Wind: Environmental and Social Pathways will address how responsible environmental management, stakeholder engagement, and licensing can ensure social acceptance and long-term project success. Moderator: Inês Machado, Head of Environmental and Licensing Department, WavEC. Speakers: IBAMA Coordinator of Environmental Licensing for Energy Generation from Renewable and Thermal Sources Eduardo Wagner; STRIX International Head of Biodiversity Domingos Leitão and Principal Project Manager Venina Ribeiro; IPMA Principal Investigator Alexandra Silva and Assistant Researcher Pedro Brito; Veritas Group CGO Sérgio Iani Godinho; SGS Director of the Global Biosciences Centre of Excellence (CoE) João Silva Rodrigues; and Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI) Postdoctoral Researcher Thomaz Xavier.
The seminar will conclude with a Closing Session: Reflections and Future Collaboration, summarising key lessons and identifying practical steps for strengthening Portugal-Brazil cooperation, accelerating innovation, and ensuring industrial readiness for when the offshore wind market gains momentum.
Registration for the WavEC 2025 Seminar is now open at www.wavec.org/en/seminar
