Numerical optimization of hybrid wind-wave farm layout located on Egyptian North Coasts

Abstract

Hybrid wind wave farm systems integrate their capabilities to have higher and more reliable synergy than conventional renewable energy plants. The energy extractors’ array layout is a pivotal factor for the output power. The aim of this work is to quantify the benefits of combining the wave energy and wind energy into a hybrid system on the Egyptian Mediterranean North Coasts. It also aims to investigate the optimal array layout of a hybrid wind wave energy farm. Numerical analyses using the RANS model are applied to different cases regarding the array layout and spacing in order to increase their performance. The results indicate that the most optimal array layout is a square-staggered one with a spacing of 4.0 rotor diameters along the y-axis and 5.0 rotor diameters along the x-axis. The revealed optimal layout provides more than a 14.4% increase in performance for the wind and wave arrays compared to an existing offshore wind farm, with 52.5% lesser farm occupying-surface area.