Abstract
Analyzing wave power is important for exploiting renewable energy in the South China Sea, particularly near reef islands. This study analyzes the distribution and evolution of wave power and its harnessing potential in the South China Sea based on 26 years of high-resolution hindcast data. A hindcast simulation of wave characteristics is conducted using the WAVEWATCH III model, which has a 3-hour temporal resolution and a high spatial resolution of 0.067°, and the results are used to evaluate the blocking effect of the island groups. The hindcast data are validated using altimeter data from nine satellites for the entire computing period. The mean values over 26 years, seasonal evolutions, and trends are evaluated to determine the wave power distribution, and variabilities in wave power near coastlines and offshore islands are studied at ten reference points. The results show that the South China Sea has considerable wave power and areas that are rich in power originate from the Luzon Strait. Wave energy near the offshore islands is more stable than that at locations near the Chinese mainland, which indicates that installing a wave farm near the islands would be an economically viable and environmentally friendly way to supply power.
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