In this paper, a switched modulated power filter-green plug (SPF-GP) scheme for wave energy conversion (WEC) systems is presented. In order to reduce the interfacing power quality problems and improve the energy utilization of WEC systems, design and realization of a novel SPF-GP and effective control strategies are studied. To illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed techniques, a simulation model is developed in Matlab/Simulink/Simpower Software Environment. Besides, experimental prototype models of the proposed SPF-GP system and error driven controllers have been setup to verify the digital simulation model by comparing the results, which validate the effectiveness of the proposed interfacing device and the control algorithms. Both the simulation and the experiments were done for several cases and results of the same operating conditions from both platforms were compared for model validation as well as system performances. It has been shown that the proposed FACTS power filter compensator and control strategy developed by the third author are very effective on eliminating stochastic wave effects on load side voltage and load variations on source side by reducing voltage sags and swells. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.