Author(s): Maria Jimenez-Portaz; Pedro Javier Magana; Maria Victoria Moragues; Antonio Monino; Maria Clavero

Linked Author(s): Antonio Moñino Ferrando

Keywords: Wave energy; Wind energy; Renewable energy structures; Resources assessment; Spain

Abstract: Coastal areas are the habitat for a great deal of human activity. Their use has increased in the last centuries and around 40% of the population lives less than 100m of the coast. Global warming, associated to climate change, is producing a progressive sea level rise, that can produce the displacement of million people. To mitigate the effect of the climate change, reducing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere is essential. In order to achieve this, renewable energies are fundamental within the current social, environmental and political framework. Wind and waves powers are some key elements for future renewable energy resources and the energy extraction sustainability. Previous studies demonstrate the availability of significant wave energy potential in the Mediterranean coastal area, providing a mean value of 11kW/m. However, there is no research about the combination of wind and wave energy generators on the same coastal area. This combination would reduce environmental impacts by not duplicating offshore structures. Thus, the offshore wave energy and wind energy resources in Carchuna beach, located in Granada, in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, are estimated in this work. Data have been taken from several SIMAR points provided by Puertos del Estado, located off the coast, and from the ERA-Interim Copernicus service. Numerical models have been used to propagate the wave and wind characteristics in the area of interest in order to delimit a potential location for the installation of this type of devices. The main objective of this work is to analyze the potential resources to be extracted in this area. Both wind and wave resources are evaluated under the assumption of installation of combined systems, consisting of a horizontal axis wind turbine and an OWC (Oscillating Water Column) device. The methods used in this work can be extrapolated to other areas, not only in the Andalusian coastal area, but also along the whole Iberian coastal area.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/IAHR-39WC252171192022704

Year: 2022