Abstract
Under the hypothesis of random sea waves with Gaussian distribution, the paper proposes an original methodology for linearizing the differential equations governing the dynamics of a REWEC plant. This device can be easily embodied in a caisson breakwater, and consists of an OWC with an additional vertical duct in the wave-beaten side of the breakwater.
The methodology is applied to a plant with given geometry and turbine shape. The obtained average performance are compared with the results obtained by integrating in the time domain non-linear differential equations. The stochastic approach proves to be effective to estimate average power output, even at highest values of wave heights attacking the breakwater.