Performance of OWC-Type Wave Power Plants in the Waters of Sumbawa Island, Indonesia

Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, has substantial wave energy potential derived from the Indian Ocean. This significant wave energy potential, along with the Indonesian government's support for energy transition and zero carbon policies, necessitates detailed location-specific assessments of wave energy converter performance. One wave power plant that has reached a Technology Readiness Level of eight is the oscillating water column (OWC) type. Wave energy converter research using an L-shaped OWC chamber was conducted in a two-dimensional wave flume at the Coastal Engineering Laboratory of the National Research and Innovation Agency. The study involved varying the wave period characteristics found in Sumbawa Island, Indonesia, to evaluate the performance of the Wells turbine as the converter. The research results indicate that the performance of the L-shaped OWC with a Wells turbine is influenced by changes in wave periods. The water oscillation within the chamber affects the air pressure inside the chamber and the turbine duct of the OWC, which in turn impacts the turbine's rotation speed (RPM) and the overall performance of the wave energy converter. The best performance was achieved with a wave period scenario of 7.5 seconds at 7,089 RPM, while the lowest performance was observed with a wave period scenario of 11.5 seconds at 5,190 RPM.