The Basque Technology Firm IDOM Tests New Air Turbine Design at Mutriku Wave Power Plant

The Basque technology firm IDOM has recently commenced testing a novel air turbine design at the Mutriku wave power plant as part of the EuropeWave project activities. This initiative aims to further advance wave energy technology development and harness the potential of marine renewable energy.

Operated by the Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP), the Mutriku facility has been a cornerstone in the field of marine renewable energy, having generated over 3.2 GWh of clean energy to date.

EuropeWave Project Overview

EuropeWave is a flagship initiative supported by the European Commission, spearheaded by the Basque Energy Agency and Wave Energy Scotland (WES). This project focuses on driving innovation in wave energy technology through a pre-commercial procurement program targeted at challenging offshore environments.

By integrating a pre-commercial procurement (PCP) approach with the International Energy Agency’s “stage-gate” process, EuropeWave aims to optimize public funding utilization and accelerate the development of wave energy solutions.

With a substantial funding allocation of nearly €20 million, EuropeWave, led by WES and Ente Vasco de la Energia (EVE), is poised to propel the wave energy sector towards sustainable growth and technological advancement.

Mutriku Wave Power Plant

The Mutriku wave power plant, situated within the harbour breakwater, features an innovative design comprising 16 air chambers. Each chamber, measuring 4.5 meters in width, 3.1 meters in depth, and 10 meters in height (above the Lowest Astronomical Tide), incorporates a 0.75 meter diameter orifice connected to a Wells turbine and an 18.5 kW generator. This configuration results in a total installed capacity of 296 kW.

Looking ahead, IDOM announced plans to deploy its wave energy prototype offshore at BiMEP during the summer of 2025, marking a significant milestone in Phase 3 of the EuropeWave project.