ABSTRACT
A number of devices for converting the wave energy to electrical power was developed during the past years. These devices are commonly categorized based on their working principle. Specifically, the devices are commonly distinguished as (Falcão 2010): oscillating body systems; overtopping devices; and oscillating water column (OWC) devices. Each class of devices was investigated and the full scale realization is currently under development for some of them. In this regard, since the 90’s OWCs have been realized by embodying the device into classical upright breakwaters. For instance, a prototype was built into a caisson breakwater of the Sakata Port, in Japan; other plants were built in India, in Scotland at Islay, in Portugal at the Azores, and Mutriku (Spain).
