Waves as Energy Source for Desalination Plants in Islands

Abstract

The rapid increase in the global demand for electricity and the resulting emission of polluting gases, together with the limited availability of land suitable for renewable energy installations in some areas, are the motivation for this study. The Canary Islands, characterized by rugged terrain and limited water resources, provide the context for this research in which the interconnection between water and energy is the central focus. This work examines the technical viability of meeting the annual energy requirements of island-based desalination facilities by wave energy, with the objective of diminishing dependence on fossil fuels and ensuring the water supply. Five wave energy converters were compared under three scenarios with increasing levels of constraints, including single-device installations and wave farm configurations. The first scenario evaluated the unit performance of each device, showing WaveStar to be the most operationally robust option. The second and third scenarios shifted the analysis to a wave farm layout with and without environmental restrictions. The results showed that Wave Dragon and WaveStar farms achieve the highest production levels and best installed power densities. Each offers different advantages, with Wave Dragon concentrating high power in a few units and WaveStar presenting greater modularity and better resistance to adverse conditions.