Offshore Wind Energy Resource in the Kingdom of Morocco: Assessment of the Seasonal Potential Variability Based on Satellite Data

Abstract

This study provides a first estimate of the offshore wind power potential along the Moroccan Atlantic shelf based on remotely sensed data. An in-depth knowledge of wind potential characteristics allows assessment of the offshore wind energy project. Based on consistent daily satellite data retrieved from the Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) spanning the period from 2008 to 2017, the seasonal wind characteristics were statistically analyzed using the climatological Weibull distribution functions and an assessment of the Moroccan potential coastal wind energy resources was qualitatively analyzed across a range of sites likely to be suitable for possible exploitation. Also, an atlas of wind power density (WPD) at a height of 80 m was provided for the whole Moroccan coast. An examination of the bathymetrical conditions of the study area was carried out since bathymetry is among the primary factors that need to be examined with the wind potential during offshore wind project planning. The results were presented based on the average wind intensity and the prevailing direction, and also the wind power density was shown at monthly, seasonal and interannual time scale. The analysis indicated that the coastal wind regime of the southern area of Morocco has the greatest energy potential, with an average power density which can reach in some places a value around 450 W/m2 at heights of 10 m and 80 m above sea level (a.s.l) (wind turbine hub height) more particularly in the south of the country.

GIS and Wave Modeling for Establishing a Potential Area of Aquaculture—Case Study: Central Atlantic Part of the Moroccan Coast

“…The version GeoTIFF 2019 bathymetry was used due to its precision of 15 arc seconds (≈400 m at our latitude) (Figure 2a) to characterize the underwater relief of the study area. Shallow waters extend the continental shelf by approximately 12 nautical miles, while the average width of the continental shelf is approximately 40 to 50 km [17]. The shelf break is at a depth of 200 m, which gives this area the potential to house all the devices of aquaculture farms.…”

“…The spatio-temporal hovmoller diagram exhibits considerable interannual oscillation in the significant wave height intensity covering the 14 years' time series spanning 2004-2017. Thus, in the whole of the zone, the changes on an annual scale dominate in the variability of the height of the swell showing years with intense activities assimilated to extreme events induced by a higher variability-in the case of 2009, 2011 and 2014 [17], with values exceeding 6 m.…”

“…Unlike Zone 2, located in the south, it has a wider continental shelf (17 km to reach 60 m deep) with a shallow slope. The average width of the continental shelf is about 40 to 50 km [17,37]…”

Performance Analysis on the Use of Oscillating Water Column in Barge-Based Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

“…FOWTs have become an emerging trend in wind energy exploration in the past few years [5][6][7]. They offer the possibility of cheap and clean power supply for highly populated countries with access to a deep offshore area, such as coastal cities in the US, Spain, Japan, Korea, Norway, and Morocco [8,9]. Also, FOWTs are being built to have a capability of adding wave energy converters [10].…”

Switching Control Strategy for Oscillating Water Columns Based on Response Amplitude Operators for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines Stabilization

“…Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT) have played an unprecedented role in capturing more clean and renewable wind and wave resources and generating more electricity [3]. Some classes of such turbines have been deployed in vast areas available in seaside towns in countries including the USA, Spain, Japan, South-Korea, Norway [4] and Morocco [5].…”