BIMEP (Mutriku) World´s first breakwater wave power plant: acceptance of the community
About this good practice
The objective of the Good pratice is to demonstrate a new wave facility with an innovative technology to generate wave energy.
Resources needed
It was a collaboration between EVE and the Port Authority.
The modification of the breakwater to house OWC chamber costed around 4 million euros. In addition, the implementation of the OWC technology costed 2.3 million euros which were partially funded by a Programme of the European Commission.
Evidence of success
The project demonstrated the technical viability to produce energy from waves. The production of 3 GWh of cumulative energy reached at the end of 2023 appears as evidence of this great success
This initiative represents a good example of facilities located close to residential areas as no formal complaint has been received along 13 years of continuous operation, thus reinforcing the “local clean energy production instead of conventional large power generation based on fossil fuels” paradigm
Potential for learning or transfer
The Mutriku Wave Power Plant stands in one of municipality that comprises the Basque Coast Geopark recognized by UNESCO. In this sense, the power plant can be regularly visited as part of tourist offering promoted by the geopark. The visits aim to emphasize the vital value of this type of demonstration projects to progress on the energy transition that the society is immersed in, at the same time as they serve to increase public awareness towards the need of renewable energies.
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