Mutriku's Offshore Wave Power Plant Capture Chamber Model Validation

The strategic vision outlined in the EU Energy Road Map suggests that, by the year 2050, the use of ocean wave energy could fulfill up to 15% of the European Union's energy demands, while allowing a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, estimated at 136 million metric tons per megawatt-hour. The Spanish Renewable Energies Plan echoes this vision, placing a particular emphasis on the role of wave energy within Spain's energy portfolio. In this milieu, Oscillating Water Column (OWC) converters are emerging as a leading technology for the conversion of wave energy, able to operate from both terrestrial and marine platforms. This study introduces a detailed analytical model for the wave capture chamber of a static OWC wave energy generator, which has been specifically developed and parameterized for the Mutriku Marine Offshore Wave Power Plant (Mutriku's MOWC), located on the coastline of the Basque Country in Spain. The validation of the proposed model is conducted through the utilization of in-situ measured wave input data, alongside the experimental power output data procured from the operational plant. This dual-faceted validation approach ensures the robustness and applicability of the model in real-world scenarios.