Assessing wave energy converters in the gulf of Mexico using a multi-criteria approach

Abstract

The wave power in the Gulf of Mexico was analyzed, using 42 years (1979–2020) of simulated data, with ERA-5 winds to force the WAVEWATCH III wave model. The model was successfully validated with three NDBC buoys, 42,055, 42,001 and 42,002. Comparison of significant wave heights obtained from the Jason-2, Cryosat-2, and Saral satellites showed good mean correlation coefficients and root mean squares. The spatial distribution of wave power was studied, as well as its seasonal variability. The region studied has moderate availability of wave power with marked seasonality. A multi-criteria MCA approach, including both sea state and wave energy converters (WECs), was then applied. Nine virtual sites were selected for the study and the AAHPA device gave best results in 7 virtual sites and the Wavestar device in the remaining two. The technology of these two devices, a system of oscillating buoys, is the most viable technology for the Gulf of Mexico.

Application of a revised integration of methods for wave energy converter and farm location pair mapping

“…This led to the development of the Selection Index for Wave Energy Deployments (SIWED) [40] over Europe, and the Multi-Criteria Approach (MCA) [33] using the Persian Gulf study case. MCA has also been applied over China's coast [41] and in Mexico by different authors [42]. However, to the authors' knowledge, the WEC-selection power of these indexes has not been investigated, yet.…”

Partitioning the Extreme Wave Spectrum of Hurricane Wilma to Improve the Design of Wave Energy Converters

“…However, the Yucatan Peninsula is frequently hit by hurricanes, so the resilience of WECs under different wave systems, driven simultaneously during storms, is crucial. While point-absorbing WECs appear to be the most viable technology to harness wave power in the Mexican Caribbean [10], the ability of a WEC to survive extreme waves [11] is the main factor determining the success of this technology. Thus, improvements in wave spectrum analysis are necessary in order to determine the operating conditions and structural stability of potential WECs that could be installed in the study area.…”