Assessment of the intra-annual and inter-annual variability of the wave energy resource in the Bay of Biscay (France)

In this paper, the wave energy potential in the western coast of France is assessed, analyzing 58 years of data from numerical models at 10 points located between latitudes 43º30'N and 47ºN. The study focuses on the temporal variability at different scales (monthly, seasonal and inter-annual)....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Sierra Pedrico, Juan Pablo|||0000-0003-0814-1134, White, Adam, Mösso Aranda, César|||0000-0003-2598-1864, Mestres Ridge, Marc|||0000-0002-2010-8241
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2017
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:2117/114543
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/114543
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2017.09.112
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ocean energy resources--France
Energia maremotriu
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Enginyeria hidràulica, marítima i sanitària::Ports i costes
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia mareomotriu
Descripción
Sumario:In this paper, the wave energy potential in the western coast of France is assessed, analyzing 58 years of data from numerical models at 10 points located between latitudes 43º30'N and 47ºN. The study focuses on the temporal variability at different scales (monthly, seasonal and inter-annual). The northern part of this stretch is the most energetic (wave powers greater than 22 kW/m), with a decrease of the wave power southwards. The results show that both the wave power resource and the energy output of two wave energy converters (WECs) at the Atlantic coast of France have strong intra-annual and inter-annual variability. From one year to another the wave power may present variations of up to 200%, and the WEC energy output may almost double. These results illustrate that the average mean power alone is not sufficient for adequate wave resource quantification, and it is necessary to consider the intra-annual and inter-annual variability of the wave power and the WEC output when analyzing the potential installation of a wave energy farm in a certain area.