Integration of assessment-methods for wave renewable energy: Resource and installation feasibility

Abstract

As wave renewables can be a cornerstone in the energy mix framework necessary for a green energy transition, a new integrated model is introduced to assess coastal locations and wave resource potential for renewable installations based on: (A) wave resource metrics and indices, and (B) geographical analyses. The Canary archipelago (Spain) is a relevant case study due to its different islands' interactions and its human-related/environmental (including fauna/flora) restrictions. With respect to (A), 63 approaches (for 40 parameters) were investigated regarding their relevancy, complementarity and representativeness, to reduce them to a critical 9 final key performance indicators for the wave resource (power, direction, harshness and availability, amongst others). These were then strategically integrated to conduct the actual wave resource analysis. The restrictions assessed in (B) resulted in the distinction of most and least restrictive scenarios. The areas available for renewable installation according to (B) were then merged with the resource assessment performed in (A). Results highlight the archipelago's appeal for renewable installation, with the islands displaying a complex high-potential coverage partially located in the most restrictive scenario.