Abstract
Today, wave energy harvesting is considered to be economical only at oceanic scale, although the hindrance to demonstration are posed by the same harsh environment that is considered so essential. Is it reasonable to investigate the opportunity to install Wave Energy Converters (WECs) in the Mediterranean seas? Will they ever be economical in such conditions? The (many) arguments against and (the few) in favor of this eventuality are discussed, raising the issue of defining appropriate scaling laws for the cost. Some general ideas to enhance the efficiency of WECs under mild wave climates are given by observing the Italian patents. One of the Italian devices, the SeaBreath, is analyzed in greater detail. In conclusion, Italian WECs need to be coupled to other functions, such as breakwaters, to reach economic viability. They could also be associated to wind farms, where it is likely that the incident wave climate is mild: to reduce the wave impact on the piles and increase the persistence of power production.