Harnessing of different WECs to harvest wave energy along the Galician Coast (NW Spain)

Abstract

The wave power resource (WP) was calculated along the Galician coast (NW Spain) over the period 2014–2021 using high spatial resolution hourly data from the SWAN model. In addition, the electrical energy (PE) that can be extracted for a particular wave energy converter (WEC) was analyzed for four different WECs (Oyster, Atargis, Aqua Buoy, and Pelamis). The performance of every WEC was also calculated attending to two parameters: the power load factor (ε) and the normalized capture width with respect to the WEC’s geometry (efficiency). Results show that the WP resource is lower than 10 kWm−1 onshore, but it increases to about 50 kWm−1 offshore. Atargis obtained the highest PE, and it is the most efficient device (ε ~40% and efficiency ~45%). Pelamis showed the lowest performance in offshore areas (ε ~15%, efficiency < 10%). A different type of WEC should be considered for every location along the coast depending on its size, performance parameters, and coexistence with other socio-economic activities and protected environmental areas.