Students of the Degree in Energy Engineering visit the Mutriku wave power plant
Students of the Degree in Energy Engineering visit the Mutriku wave power plant
Students of the Degree in Energy Engineering visit the Mutriku wave power plant
The third-year students of the Degree in Energy Engineering analyse the technology of the oscillating water column.
The third-year students of the Degree in Energy Engineering visited the Mutriku wave power plant, being able to analyse the different methods used to harness the energy from waves. The Mutriku plant is based on the technology of the oscillating water column, specifically in the fixed variety. The facility located in the Mutriku harbour dock works through special cameras, which are filled with seawater on one side and a special air turbine on the other. Thus, when the wave is introduced into the chamber, the air of the wave travels upwards, activating the air turbine, which in turn is connected to an electric generator. The 16 turbines located in the Mutriku dam make up a facility that reaches up to 300 kW of power.
A pioneering facility
The Mutriku power wave plant is one of the few energy facilities of this type in the world, the first of which was launched in Europe. Currently, it is used mainly to carry out tests on the advances that this technology is experiencing. Once the tests carried out in Mutriku are satisfactory, the technology will be marketed. The station is expected to continue experimenting with this technology in the future to be able to offer 100% renewable energy that is viable.