The Mutriku Breakwater Wave Plant: Improvements and Their Influence on the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCoE)

The Basque Energy Agency commissioned the Mutriku Wave Power Plant, using an Oscillating Water Column technology in 2011, and although the cumulative total power has been over 3 GW/h until 2023, the initial expectations of efficiency and LCoE have not been accomplished. This paper proposes a series...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alberto Peña, Iñigo Bidaguren, Urko Izquierd, Gustavo Adolfo Esteban, Jesús María Blanco, Iñigo Albaina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Korean Society of Ocean Engineers 2025-04-01
Series:한국해양공학회지
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.26748/KSOE.2024.099
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Summary:The Basque Energy Agency commissioned the Mutriku Wave Power Plant, using an Oscillating Water Column technology in 2011, and although the cumulative total power has been over 3 GW/h until 2023, the initial expectations of efficiency and LCoE have not been accomplished. This paper proposes a series of modifications to the breakwater and chamber geometry of the plant to increase energy production and efficiency. These proposed improvements were tested in experimental campaigns in the modular wave flume in the Energy Engineering Department at the University of the Basque Country, using a mock-up of the original installation. Some results also came from validated numerical simulations, showing that the response amplitude operator and the capture width ratio values were better than those in the original L-shaped power plant. The best configurations appear to be U-shaped and when harbor walls are used. In conclusion, this paper reports the proper configurations and localizations for new wave power plants that could be commercially competitive.
ISSN:1225-0767
2287-6715