Wave energy resource assessment for eastern Bay of Bengal and Malacca Strait

Abstract

Maritime countries are benefited by wave energy resources. There has been some initiatives for assessing the wave resources along the South East Asia (SEA) countries, however among the SEA the coastal regions facing the Indian Ocean are least studied. This study focuses on the estimation of wave energy in the eastern Bay of Bengal and Malacca Strait. Major part of these regions are exposed to swells from the South Indian Ocean and affected by the predominant monsoons, especially the SW monsoon. A third generation wave model has been used to simulate the wind-waves over a domain covering the Indian Ocean, South China Sea and part of the Western Pacific Ocean (20° - 140°E, 60°S - 35°N) during a ten year period (1997–2006). The wave model has been forced with ECMWF re-analysis winds available for every 6 h in 0.75° × 0.75° spatial resolution. The model results have been used to estimate the wave power. Monthly, seasonal and annual mean wave powers are assessed. In addition, inter-annual variability has been analysed and discussed.