Renewable Marine Energies in Galicia: Potential and Monitoring Tools

Abstract

The energy debate is characterized by the consideration of a great variety of arguments. However, nowadays, a certain consensus is reached when demanding the necessary coexistence of different generation sources in the energy mix, in order to guarantee the supply, hold the costs or reduce the CO2 emissions. Considering this framework, the use of renewable energies seems to be obvious: they are abundant, domestic and their contribution to the fight against the climate change is unquestionable. The ocean, covers a 75 % of the earth’s surface, represents a huge reserve of solar and gravitational energy, still to be exploited, estimated in a minimum value of 25.000 GW. The waves, tides and winds of the seas that border the north coast of the Iberian Peninsula are rough and offer a huge kinetic energy potential. Furthermore, Galicia benefits from its consolidated shipbuilding and maritime tradition and port infrastructures, its experience in the onshore wind energy sector, as well as from the available industrial resources and technologies. By analysing previous reports, the present paper aims to identify the Galicia potential for the use of renewable marine energies, specifically coming from waves, tidal streams and offshore winds, and provide monitoring tools for the surveillance of critical elements, as well as for R&D funding sources.