Wave resource spatial and temporal variability dependence on WEC size

Authors

  • Bryson Robertson PMEC, USA
  • Gabrielle Dunkle
  • Tim Mundon
  • Levi Kilcher

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36688/imej.5.113-121

Keywords:

Wave Spectrum, WEC Modelling, Blue Economy, Wave resource assessment.

Abstract

As the wave energy sector grows and looks to the Blue Economy for commercialization opportunities, there is a distinct and pressing need to clearly understand and quantify the coupled impacts of wave energy converter (WEC) size and wave resource characteristics on the annual energy production, spatial variability and temporal variability. Utilizing generic frequency domain representations of the Oscilla Power Triton WEC and spectral wave conditions at PacWave (Oregon), Los Angeles (California) and WETS (Hawaii), a series of interesting results emerge. Firstly, the ‘optimal’ WEC size, from an energy standpoint, is fundamentally dependent on the frequency distribution of the incoming wave variance density spectrum. Secondly, and from a seasonality perspective, the seasonal WEC energy generation doesn’t necessarily follow the seasonal distribution of gross wave power. Finally, from an hourly power variability perspective, a reduction in WEC size generally decreases variability. However, for each of the locations investigated, there appears to be a WEC size threshold; a threshold where further reducing WEC size results in increased power variability.

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Published

2022-06-22

How to Cite

Robertson, B., Dunkle, G., Mundon, T., & Kilcher, L. (2022). Wave resource spatial and temporal variability dependence on WEC size. International Marine Energy Journal, 5(1), 113–121. https://doi.org/10.36688/imej.5.113-121

Issue

Section

EWTEC 2021 Special issue papers (Part 1)