Carnegie Clean Energy Clears Spanish Regulatory Hurdle for First CETO European Deployment

By Josua Ferreira -

Carnegie receives €63,688 EuropeWave milestone payment as CETO European deployment clears key regulatory stage

Carnegie Clean Energy (ASX: CCE) has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, CETO Wave Energy Ireland, has received a milestone payment of €63,688 (approximately $103k AUD) under the EuropeWave Phase 3 contract. The payment follows approval of two specific deliverables tied to the ACHIEVE Programme, which is working towards the first deployment of CETO technology in Europe at the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP) site in Spain. This is a regulatory and technical stage gate cleared, not simply a cash receipt.

What triggered the payment — two deliverables approved

EuropeWave released the milestone payment following formal approval of two deliverables:

  1. Authorisation for deployment of the CETO device at BiMEP from the relevant Spanish National Energy and Coastal Authorities (the competent authority for Energy due to grid connection, and the competent authority for Coastal Affairs due to seabed occupation).
  2. Completion of control software for the upcoming back-to-back PTO testing.

While BiMEP already holds general authorisation as a test site from both Coastal and Industry/Energy Authorities of the Spanish Government, the installation of any wave energy conversion prototype requires specific notification to these two authorities. This distinction is material. The approval process is a meaningful regulatory hurdle, not a formality, and the ACHIEVE team worked closely with BiMEP to secure these authorisations.

The receipt of both approvals has been described as an important regulatory stage gate for the ACHIEVE Programme.

Deliverable Authority Jurisdiction Status
Authorisation for deployment of CETO device at BiMEP Competent authority for Energy (grid connection) and Competent authority for Coastal Affairs (seabed occupation) Spanish National Government Approved
Completion of control software for back-to-back PTO testing EuropeWave Buyers Group EuropeWave Programme Completed

Understanding the EuropeWave programme and what it means for CETO

EuropeWave is an innovative research and development programme for wave energy technology, running from 2022 to 2026. It operates as a Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) programme, a structured model that shares risk between the public sector and technology developers rather than placing the full burden on either party alone.

Key programme facts include:

  • Combined funding of over €22.5 million from national, regional, and EU sources
  • Match-funded under the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme (grant agreement No 883751)
  • A collaboration between Wave Energy Scotland (WES), the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), and Ocean Energy Europe (OEE)
  • Aligned with European Commission targets of 100MW of ocean energy by 2027 and at least 1GW by 2030

The PCP model was originally pioneered by Wave Energy Scotland and is designed to foster collaboration and risk-sharing between public bodies and developers. For Carnegie Clean Energy, this structure provides a funded pathway to demonstrate CETO technology under real ocean conditions.

From an investor standpoint, milestone payments like this one convert verified technical and regulatory progress into received cash. Each payment reflects a programme gate cleared, reducing delivery risk incrementally as the deployment moves forward.

What comes next for CETO and Carnegie’s commercialisation pathway

The BiMEP deployment represents a key step on CETO’s commercialisation pathway, as described by Carnegie in its programme documentation. Once operating at the open ocean site, the CETO unit will generate performance data that can be used to validate the technology and advance it further along that pathway.

The ACHIEVE Programme benefits from a layered funding structure that extends beyond EuropeWave. Additional support includes:

  • The RENMARINAS DEMOS Programme, established by Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and managed by IDAE (Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía), funded through the European Union’s NextGenerationEU Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan
  • A grant from the Ente Vasco de la Energía (EVE), the Basque Country’s public energy agency, under its grants programme for the demonstration and validation of emerging marine renewable energy technologies

Both of Carnegie’s subsidiaries are active in the programme. CETO Wave Energy Ireland holds the EuropeWave contract, while Carnegie Technologies Spain is involved through the RENMARINAS DEMOS and EVE-funded components.

Carnegie Clean Energy describes itself as a technology developer focused on delivering ocean energy technologies through its CETO and MoorPower platforms. The European deployment milestone positions CETO for continued validation in a commercially relevant, well-funded, and regulatory-supported environment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EuropeWave programme and how does it relate to Carnegie Clean Energy?

EuropeWave is a Pre-Commercial Procurement programme running from 2022 to 2026, backed by over €22.5 million in EU and national funding, designed to support wave energy technology development. Carnegie Clean Energy participates through its ACHIEVE Programme, which is working toward deploying its CETO wave energy device at the BiMEP test site in Spain.

What triggered Carnegie Clean Energy's latest EuropeWave milestone payment?

The €63,688 milestone payment was triggered by the formal approval of two deliverables: Spanish National Government authorisation for CETO device deployment at the BiMEP site, and completion of control software for back-to-back PTO testing.

What is the BiMEP site and why is it significant for CETO's European deployment?

BiMEP, the Biscay Marine Energy Platform, is a wave energy test site in Spain where Carnegie's CETO device will be deployed for its first European open-ocean demonstration. Deployment there will generate real performance data to validate the technology and advance it along Carnegie's commercialisation pathway.

How is the ACHIEVE Programme funded beyond the EuropeWave contract?

In addition to EuropeWave funding, the ACHIEVE Programme receives support from Spain's RENMARINAS DEMOS Programme under the EU's NextGenerationEU Recovery Plan, and a grant from the Basque Country's public energy agency EVE for demonstrating emerging marine renewable energy technologies.

What does the Spanish regulatory approval mean for Carnegie Clean Energy's CETO deployment timeline?

The approvals from Spain's National Energy and Coastal Authorities — covering grid connection and seabed occupation — represent a meaningful regulatory stage gate cleared rather than a formality, removing a key hurdle and allowing the ACHIEVE Programme to advance toward physical deployment of the CETO device at BiMEP.

Josua Ferreira
By Josua Ferreira
Partnership Director
Josua Ferreira holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Advertising and brings a background in publication, business development, and ASX market storytelling. He has worked with listed companies across the resource sector and broader market, combining sharp commercial instincts with a genuine commitment to keeping investors informed.
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