Wave energy potential along the Atlantic coast of Morocco

This study analyses the wave energy resource along the Atlantic coast of Morocco using a 44-year series of data obtained from numerical modeling (hindcasting). The spatial distribution of wave power is analyzed using data from 23 points along that coast. The estimated resources (average wave power u...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sierra Pedrico, Juan Pablo|||0000-0003-0814-1134, Martín Amer, César, Mösso Aranda, César|||0000-0003-2598-1864, Mestres Ridge, Marc|||0000-0002-2010-8241, Jebbad, Raghda
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2016
País:España
Institución:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/96682
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/96682
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2016.04.071
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ocean wave power
Wave energy Morocco Hindcasting Atlantic coast Wave energy converter
Energia maremotriu
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia mareomotriu
Descripción
Sumario:This study analyses the wave energy resource along the Atlantic coast of Morocco using a 44-year series of data obtained from numerical modeling (hindcasting). The spatial distribution of wave power is analyzed using data from 23 points along that coast. The estimated resources (average wave power up to 30 kW/m and average annual wave energy up to 262 MW h/m) are considerable and slightly lower than at the neighboring Canary Islands. The central part of this area (between latitudes 29°30'N and 34°N) is the most productive, while in the northern and southern parts the resource is significantly lower due to the shadow effect of the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, respectively. The study of the temporal variability indicates a considerable seasonal trend, being the wave energy resource over four times greater in winter than in summer. Moreover, the power matrices of two wave energy converters (WECs) are considered to estimate the average power output at all the studied points. Finally, a multi-criteria analysis is carried out considering five different factors in order to select the best places for WEC deployment.