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N e w s
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Press Release 8 July 2011
World’s first commercial wave power plant inaugurated at Mutriku–
Milestone in energy generating history
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Basque country’s utility EVE pioneers commercial
utilization: 300 kW of power output
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Voith Hydro’s reliability proven technology: over 10 yrs of
grid-connected operation
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Minimal ecological impact and strong economic synergies: 16
Wells turbines integrated in new Mutriku breakwater
structure
Mutriku, Spain: Today, the Basque seaport of Mutriku,
located between Bilbao and San Sebastian witnessed a
historic day in energy generation history. Utility Ente
Vasco de la Energía (EVE) officially started the Mutriku
wave power plant – the first worldwide in commercial
operation. Voith Hydro supplied the equipment for Mutriku’s
16 power units that will provide an output of 300 kilowatts
in total - electricity sufficient for around 250 homes.
“The rising global demand for green energy is proving to be
a strong catalyst for the implementation of innovative forms
of renewable energy. The Mutriku project shows: Our wave
power technology is commercially viable and ready for wide
deployment on the global markets”, says Dr. Roland Muench,
Chief Executive Officer of Voith Hydro Holding. “To further
this development, adequate feed-in-tariffs for wave power,
as already exist in some countries, can now set the right
political framework.”
Voith Hydro’s wave power technology can be deployed in new
and existing breakwaters, and in purpose-built structures.
Building on its long-term proven reliability, continuous
design improvement have allowed for developing the
technology to its leading-edge performance. The worldwide
potential of the ocean energies is at an estimated 1.8
terawatts and still remains largely untapped.
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Voith Hydro ’s OWC (oscillating water column) technology is the
only one that demonstrates the availability required for
commercial deployment. On the Scottish island of Islay, Voith
Hydro has been operating the commercial-scale Limpet wave power
plant for over a decade, generating power to the national grid
for over 65,000 hours.
Voith Hydro is a Group Division of Voith and - with a workforce
of currently almost 5,200 employees and a sales volume of almost
1.2 billion Euros in the business year 2009/2010 – belongs to
the world-wide leading companies for hydro power equipment.
Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper,
raw materials and transportation & automotive. Founded in 1867,
Voith employs almost 40,000 people, generates €5.2 billion in
sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is
today one of the biggest family-owned companies in Europe.
(Picture: Voith) The Mutriku wave power plant.
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