The technology which will be employed is the Oscillating Water Column (OWC) technology which has been until thus developed by Wavegen. Wavegen is located in Inverness Scotland and has thus far been responsible for developing several technologies for implementation in wave power projects. The OWC has been field tested for seven years up to now. In total there are plans to install 16 turbines , which would be able to power 250 homes and generate about 300 kilowatt hours. The plant should come online in the winter of 2008 to 2009.
Huber Lienhard who is the president of Voith Siemens Hydro said that; "Mutriku is a milestone in the history of wave energy. We are proud that the first breakwater wave energy plant will rely on Wavegen's technology."
David Gibb who is the general manager of Wavegen noted that in addition to the negotiations which were underway with several other countries; "This project represents a major step toward commercialization of wave power as we continue to develop the technology and demonstrate its reliability under commercial operating conditions.”
The OWC principle works in the following manner according to Wavegen : “An opening in the front of the breakwater allows the sea to rise and fall within a chamber due to the action of the waves. This motion compresses and decompresses the enclosed volume of air. The energy generated from this pressure differential is then - with the aid of a Wells turbine and a generator - transformed into electricity and fed into the grid.”
For additional Information:
http://www.voithsiemens.com/vs_en_pas_wave_energy.htm http://www.voithsiemens.com/index_en.php
