Background In order to mitigate against the negative impacts of climate change, the European Commission adopted a Green Paper (COM(2006) 105 final) establishing a European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy. Additionally, Directive 2009/28/CE (Renewables Directive) established that 20% of energy consumption in the European Union must come from renewable sources by 2020. A Eurostat report in 2012 indicated that 14% of energy consumption in the EU came from renewable sources, so the path will be steeper in the final stage. In January 2014, the “Blue Energy” action plan emphasised support for energy generated by wave and tidal power. In this respect, Galicia has a potential for up to 75 kW per metre of wave front (and an average of 40 kW). This makes it one of the areas with the best potential for wave and tidal power generation worldwide, with good accessibility and an exceptional proximity to points of consumption. Objectives The main objective of the LIFE DEMOWAVE project is to demonstrate the viability of two wave energy converter (WEC) devices, which have already been researched and patented, for electricity generation. The two prototypes, each one scaled at 25 kW, will be manufactured, installed and tested to demonstrate their socio-economic viability, as well as transferability potential, based on their robust design and systems’ efficiency (e.g. survival capacity under extreme weather conditions). The project also aims to highlight the environmental benefits of the system, by quantifying the reduction of carbon footprint and other pollutants along the entire cycle, in comparison with other technologies, and identifying and minimising its impact on biodiversity. Expected results: Demonstration of the technical viability and survival capacity of two WEC prototypes (of 25 kW) on the Galician coast under extreme conditions (e.g. wind speeds of BEAUFORT 8 10); Demonstration of the energy efficiency, power quality and high generation ratio (above 75%) of the systems; Demonstration of the electricity generation potential of these systems in comparison with other solutions; Extrapolation of the results through accurate measurement of wave attenuation, so that models and designs could be applied and scaled-up in any location to ensure the technology’s transferability; Measurement of the carbon footprint throughout the life cycle of the WECs and establishment of a calculation method to quantify their impact (ISO Standards); Qualitative and quantitative determination of the parameters to characterise the environmental impact on marine biodiversity and the environment, including an analysis of pollutants and damage to the seafloor; Demonstration of the low environmental impact compared with other technologies; Energy and environmental comparative report for all energy generation technologies in the marine environment; and Establishment of a methodology to minimise damage during installation in the marine environment.