Evaluating the Future Efficiency of Wave Energy Converters along the NW Coast of the Iberian Peninsula

Américo S Ribeiro,Mariana Bernardino,Maite Decastro,Liliana Rusu,João M Dias,Moncho Gomez-Gesteira

doi:10.3390/en13143563

Abstract

The efficiency of wave energy converters (WECs) is generally evaluated in terms of historical wave conditions that do not necessarily represent the conditions that those devices will encounter when put into operation. The main objective of the study is to assess the historical and near future efficiency and energy cost of two WECs (Aqua Buoy and Pelamis). A SWAN model was used to downscale the wave parameters along the NW coast of the Iberian Peninsula both for a historical period (1979–2005) and the near future (2026–2045) under the RCP 8.5 greenhouse scenario. The past and future efficiency of both WECs were computed in terms of two parameters that capture the relationship between sea states and the WEC power matrices: the load factor and the capture width. The wave power resource and the electric power capacity of both the WECs will decrease in the near future. The load factor for Aqua Buoy will decrease in the entire area, while it will remain unchanged for Pelamis in most of the area, except north of 43.5° N. The capture width and cost of energy will increase for both devices. The methodology here applied can be easily applied to any device and coastal domain under different climate change scenarios.

Highlights

The oceans are the largest source of unexploited renewable energy in the world
The wave power energy was used to identify the wave power resource available along the northwest Iberian Peninsula coast (NWIP) coast both for the historical period (1979–2005) and the near future (2026–2045), and the assessment of the projected changes in terms of mean wave power was made by computing the difference ∆P in the wave power resource between both periods (Figure 2)
A similar trend is shown for the near future, the maximum values do not exceed 60 kWm−1 (Figure 2b). ∆P is negative for the entire region, which suggests that P

Summary

Introduction

Europe; to support sustainable jobs and growth in the “blue economy”; to create a new internal market capable of exporting marine renewable energy products and services; and to reduce carbon emission from burning fossil fuels, improving the air quality. Renewable energy located in marine environments has the advantage of larger areas for marine energy farms, with a higher and more stable power density. The limitations are deep waters for technological reasons, and that marine energy farms must coexist with other sea uses, like fishing and shipping, and with restricted or protected areas. Ocean renewable resources may be exploited without harming the marine environment or negatively impacting the other sea uses if farms are sited and scaled properly following environmental guidelines [1]. Future marine wave energy farms could play a key role in Energies 2020, 13, 3563; doi:10.3390/en13143563 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies

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