Test Reference Year for wave energy studies: Generation and validation

Abstract

In a perspective of impoverishment of the fossil fuel and preservation of the natural environment, the sea wave energy is being increasingly regarded as alternative and promising resource. A key aspect to take in consideration for the deployment of Wave Energy Converters is the local characterization of the wave climate. In this contribute, a methodology for the calculation and validation of a site-specific Test Reference Year (TRY), from a multiyear dataset such ERA-Interim and ERA-5, to be used in wave energy conversion studies is proposed. Comparison of the two datasets with observed data gives ERA-5 as the best dataset.The methodology applied for the TRY generation has proven to be very effective, with the daily sum of Hs and Tm being the most effective indices for the TRY generation and in general Hs about twice more important than Tm. Once obtained, the TRY is applied in order to force an implementation of the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model in an area of the central Adriatic Sea to characterize the area.