Impact of Tidal Level Variations on Wave Energy Absorption at Wave Hub

Valeria Castellucci, Mikael Eriksson and Rafael Waters
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Valeria Castellucci: Swedish Centre for Renewable Electric Energy Conversion, Division of Electricity, Ångström Lab., Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75121, Sweden
Mikael Eriksson: Swedish Centre for Renewable Electric Energy Conversion, Division of Electricity, Ångström Lab., Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75121, Sweden
Rafael Waters: Swedish Centre for Renewable Electric Energy Conversion, Division of Electricity, Ångström Lab., Lägerhyddsvägen 1, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75121, Sweden

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: The energy absorption of the wave energy converters (WEC) characterized by a limited stroke length —like the point absorbers developed at Uppsala University—depends on the sea level variation at the deployment site. In coastal areas characterized by high tidal ranges, the daily energy production of the generators is not optimal. The study presented in this paper quantifies the effects of the changing sea level at the Wave Hub test site, located at the south-west coast of England. This area is strongly affected by tides: the tidal height calculated as the difference between the Mean High Water Spring and the Mean Low Water Spring in 2014 was about 6.6 m. The results are obtained from a hydro-mechanic model that analyzes the behaviour of the point absorber at the Wave Hub, taking into account the sea state occurrence scatter diagram and the tidal time series at the site. It turns out that the impact of the tide decreases the energy absorption by 53%. For this reason, the need for a tidal compensation system to be included in the design of the WEC becomes compelling. The economic advantages are evaluated for different scenarios: the economic analysis proposed within the paper allows an educated guess to be made on the profits. The alternative of extending the stroke length of the WEC is investigated, and the gain in energy absorption is estimated.

Keywords: wave energy converter (WEC); tides; Wave Hub; energy absorption; economic analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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