Characterization of Wave Energy Potential for the Baltic Sea with Focus on the Swedish Exclusive Economic Zone

Erik Nilsson, Anna Rutgersson, Adam Dingwell, Jan-Victor Björkqvist, Heidi Pettersson, Lars Axell, Johan Nyberg and Erland Strömstedt
Additional contact information
Erik Nilsson: Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
Anna Rutgersson: Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
Adam Dingwell: Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
Jan-Victor Björkqvist: Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland
Heidi Pettersson: Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland
Lars Axell: Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute, SE-601 76 Norrköping, Sweden
Johan Nyberg: Geological Survey of Sweden, Box 670, SE-751 28 Uppsala, Sweden
Erland Strömstedt: Division of Electricity, Department of Engineering Sciences, Uppsala University, Box 534, SE-751 21 Uppsala, Sweden

Energies, 2019, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-28

Abstract: In this study, a third-generation wave model is used to examine the wave power resource for the Baltic Sea region at an unprecedented one-kilometer-scale resolution for the years 1998 to 2013. Special focus is given to the evaluation and description of wave field characteristics for the Swedish Exclusive Economic Zone (SEEZ). It is carried out to provide a more detailed assessment of the potential of waves as a renewable energy resource for the region. The wave energy potential is largely controlled by the distance from the coast and the fetch associated with the prevailing dominant wave direction. The ice cover is also shown to significantly influence the wave power resource, especially in the most northern basins of the SEEZ. For the areas in focus here, the potential annual average wave energy flux reaches 45 MWh/m/year in the two sub-basins with the highest wave energies, but local variations are up to 65 MWh/m/year. The assessment provides the basis for a further detailed identification of potential sites for wave energy converters. An outlook is given for additional aspects studied within a broad multi-disciplinary project to assess the conditions for offshore wave energy conversion within the SEEZ.

Keywords: wave energy potential; wave power; wave energy resource assessment; third-generation wave model; Baltic Sea; Swedish exclusive economic zone; semi-enclosed basin; water depth; distance from coast (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: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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