Assessment of wave energy resource in the mid-Atlantic based on 37-year numerical hindcast data

Abstract

This study presents results from an investigation of wave energy resources over the mid-Atlantic by using the significant wave height and mean wave period (T_m) data spanning a 37 year (1980–2016) period and derived from the analysis of wave climate predictions generated by the WAVEWATCH-III wind-wave model. The spatiotemporal variations of the wave energy resource are presented and described. Results showed that wave energy is richest (11.5–14 kW/m) in regions such as West Indies, East of Martinique and Guiana basin in the extreme northwestern mid-Atlantic and are therefore ideal locations for the installation of wave power plants for electrical energy generation. Temporal variation revealed that 1992 was a year of relatively rich wave energy in the mid-Atlantic. Also, a characterization of wave energy showed that the wave energy groups 0 ≤ wp ≤ 5 and 5 ≤ wp ≤ 10, prevailed in the mid-Atlantic. Furthermore, spatial trend analysis of the annual and summer mean wave power showed that stronger trends (0.03–0.1 kW/m/year) in both cases, distribute in the southern mid-Atlantic while stronger trends (0.04–0.085 kW/m/year) dominate the northern mid-Atlantic at winter. Temporal trend analysis for the years and seasons showed that wave power exhibits an insignificant trend of approximately 0.022 kW/m/year in the mid-Atlantic.