Assessment of Wave Energy in the South China Sea Based on GIS Technology

Gang Lin,Wei Lai Shi,Li Feng Zeng,Rong Bo Li,Chong Wei Zheng,Zhi Hong Liu,Xiao Bin Chen,Long Tan Shao

doi:10.1155/2017/1372578

Abstract

China is now the world’s largest user of coal and also has the highest greenhouse gas emissions associated with the mining and use of coal. Under today’s enormous pressures of the growing shortage of conventional energy sources and the need for emission reductions, the search for clean energy is the most effective strategy to address the energy crisis and global warming. This study utilized satellite remote sensing technology, geographic information system (GIS) technology, and simulated wave data for the South China Sea. The characteristic features of the wave energy were obtained by analysis through the wave resource assessment formula and the results were stored in a GIS database. Software for the evaluation of wave energy in the South China Sea was written. The results should provide accurate, efficient references for wave energy researchers and decision-makers. Based on a 24-year WW3 model simulation wave data and GIS technology, this study presented the characteristic of the wave energy in the SCS; results demonstrated that the SCS has the feasibility and viability for wave energy farming.

Highlights

China is the world’s largest user of coal and has the highest greenhouse gas emissions associated with the mining and use of coal [1]
The wave power density is larger in the geographical regions of Dongsha, Zhongsha, and Xisha than it is in the Nansha area
The wave power density is larger in the geographical regions of Dongsha, Zhongsha, and Xisha than in the Nansha area

Summary

Introduction

China is the world’s largest user of coal and has the highest greenhouse gas emissions associated with the mining and use of coal [1]. Compared with wind and solar technology, wave power generation technology is at least a dozen years behind, but it offers unique advantages [9]. The wave power density (WPD) is high, 4–30 times that of wind energy. Wave energy is not seriously affected by the weather. As waves grow bigger they catch more wind, driving them faster and with more energy [10]. In semiopen or closed seas the wave reserves may be relatively barren, for example, the Mediterranean Sea [14, 15]. Related study shows that, despite relatively lower wave energy compared with open ocean, the semiopen sea can still get considerable economic benefits [14,15,16]. Some studies have been made on the distribution of wave energy

Methods

Results

Conclusion