High-resolution hindcasts for U.S. wave energy resource characterization

Zhaoqing Yang,Vincent S Neary

doi:10.36688/imej.3.65-71

Zhaoqing Yang, Vincent S Neary

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.36688/imej.3.65-71

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Abstract

The marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) industry is at an early stage of development and has the potential to play a significant role in diversifying the U.S. energy portfolio and reducing the U.S. carbon footprint. Wave energy is the largest among all the U.S. MHK energy resources, which include wave energy, ocean current, tidal-instream, ocean thermal energy conversion, and river-instream. Wave resource characterization is an essential step for regional wave energy assessments, Wave Energy Converter (WEC) project development, site selection and WEC design. The present paper provides an overview of a joint modelling effort by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories on high-resolution wave hindcasts to support the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office’s program of wave resource characterization, assessment and classifications in all US coastal regions. Topics covered include the modelling approach, model input requirements, model validation strategies, high performance computing resource requirements, model outputs and data management strategies. Examples of model setup and validation for different regions are provided along with application to development of classification systems, and analysis of regional wave climates. Lessons learned and technical challenges of the long-term, high-resolution regional wave hindcast are discussed.

Highlights

THE Wave Energy Converter (WEC) industry lacks sufficient knowledge of resource characteristics important to device design and project development due to the absence of accurate high-resolution spatial and temporal wave spectral data
The knowledge gaps include lack of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) parameters associated with wave resource attributes [1], statistics to characterize risks associated with extreme wave events, and classification schemes that codify these characteristics for energy planners, project developers, and WEC designers
As part of a multi-national labs effort, with funding support from Department of Energy (DOE)’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), this modelling project details highresolution wave hindcasts for wave resource characteristics at regional scales and provides the data needed for technical and business decisions that are critical to early-stage MHK technology development and commercialization

Summary

INTRODUCTION

THE WEC industry lacks sufficient knowledge of resource characteristics important to device design and project development due to the absence of accurate high-resolution spatial and temporal wave spectral data. The knowledge gaps include lack of International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) parameters associated with wave resource attributes [1], statistics to characterize risks associated with extreme wave events, and classification schemes that codify these characteristics for energy planners, project developers, and WEC designers. This knowledge is lacking in shallow nearshore regions. This paper presents an on-going regional wave hindcast effort, jointly carried out by DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the Sandia National Laboratories This project will provide industry with resource specifications that are important to designing economical WEC and optimal siting. West Coast East Coast Alaska Gulf of Mexico Hawaii Islands Pacific Islands Puerto Rico and U.S Virgin Islands

Wave models

Model configurations

Model validation

Classification

CONCLUSION