Wave energy resource assessment
Wave energy resource assessment
The use of satellite altimeter data for spatial mapping of the wave resource is examined.
A new algorithm for estimating wave period from altimeter data is developed and
validated, which enables estimates of wave energy converter (WEC) power to be
derived. Maps of the long-term mean WEC power from altimeter data are of a higher
spatial resolution than is available from global wave model data. They can be used for
identifying promising wave energy locations along particular stretches of coastline,
before a detailed study using nearshore models is undertaken.
The accuracy of estimates of WEC power from wave model data is considered. Without
calibration estimates of the mean WEC power from model data can be biased of the
order of 10-20%. The calibration of wave model data is complicated by non-linear
dependence of model parameters on multiple factors, and seasonal and interannual
changes in biases. After calibration the accuracy in the estimate of the historic power
production at a site is of the order of 5%, but the changing biases make it difficult to
specify the accuracy more precisely.
The accuracy of predictions of the future energy yield from a WEC is limited by the
accuracy of the historic data and the variability in the resource. The variability in 5, 10
and 20 year mean power levels is studied for an area in the north of Scotland, and
shown to be greater than if annual power anomalies were uncorrelated noise. The
sensitivity of WEC power production to climate change is also examined, and it is
shown that the change in wave climate over the life time of a wave farm is likely to be
small in comparison to the natural level of variability. It is shown that despite the
uncertainty related to variability in the wave climate, improvements in the accuracy of
historic data will improve the accuracy of predictions of future WEC yield.
The topic of extreme wave analysis is also considered. A comparison of estimators for
the generalised Pareto distribution (GPD) is presented. It is recommended that the
Likelihood-Moment estimator should be used in preference to other estimators for the
GPD. The use of seasonal models for extremes is also considered. In contrast to
assertions made in previous studies, it is demonstrated that non-seasonal models have a
lower bias and variance than models which analyse the data in separate seasons.
Mackay, Edward B.L.
3a339ca6-23db-4084-8e28-8e6d32603331
June 2009
Mackay, Edward B.L.
3a339ca6-23db-4084-8e28-8e6d32603331
Bahaj, A.S.
a64074cc-2b6e-43df-adac-a8437e7f1b37
Mackay, Edward B.L.
(2009)
Wave energy resource assessment.
University of Southampton, School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, Doctoral Thesis, 341pp.
Record type:
Thesis
(Doctoral)
Abstract
The use of satellite altimeter data for spatial mapping of the wave resource is examined.
A new algorithm for estimating wave period from altimeter data is developed and
validated, which enables estimates of wave energy converter (WEC) power to be
derived. Maps of the long-term mean WEC power from altimeter data are of a higher
spatial resolution than is available from global wave model data. They can be used for
identifying promising wave energy locations along particular stretches of coastline,
before a detailed study using nearshore models is undertaken.
The accuracy of estimates of WEC power from wave model data is considered. Without
calibration estimates of the mean WEC power from model data can be biased of the
order of 10-20%. The calibration of wave model data is complicated by non-linear
dependence of model parameters on multiple factors, and seasonal and interannual
changes in biases. After calibration the accuracy in the estimate of the historic power
production at a site is of the order of 5%, but the changing biases make it difficult to
specify the accuracy more precisely.
The accuracy of predictions of the future energy yield from a WEC is limited by the
accuracy of the historic data and the variability in the resource. The variability in 5, 10
and 20 year mean power levels is studied for an area in the north of Scotland, and
shown to be greater than if annual power anomalies were uncorrelated noise. The
sensitivity of WEC power production to climate change is also examined, and it is
shown that the change in wave climate over the life time of a wave farm is likely to be
small in comparison to the natural level of variability. It is shown that despite the
uncertainty related to variability in the wave climate, improvements in the accuracy of
historic data will improve the accuracy of predictions of future WEC yield.
The topic of extreme wave analysis is also considered. A comparison of estimators for
the generalised Pareto distribution (GPD) is presented. It is recommended that the
Likelihood-Moment estimator should be used in preference to other estimators for the
GPD. The use of seasonal models for extremes is also considered. In contrast to
assertions made in previous studies, it is demonstrated that non-seasonal models have a
lower bias and variance than models which analyse the data in separate seasons.
Text
EMACKAY_Thesis.pdf
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More information
Published date: June 2009
Organisations:
University of Southampton
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 79448
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/79448
PURE UUID: 73b0fb4c-98fe-4050-baa7-b85efe092fbb
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Date deposited: 15 Mar 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:32
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Author:
Edward B.L. Mackay
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