Very Large Scale Wave Energy Generation

Overview

This landscaping study investigated the potential of very large scale (10MW+) Wave Energy Converters (WECs). The study aims to quantify opportunities associated with very large scale wave energy generation and provide recommendations for the future approach to its realisation.

The study considered a range of existing device types, appreciating that as-yet unknown alternatives may exist with greater energy performance at a large scale. Future research into individual devices with more energy scaling potential is recommended.

The study highlighted that an optimum device size exists based on a CAPEX/MW metric which was found to be in the range 2-5MW for the WEC devices investigated. Conclusions were that research to identify the optimum size of other existing devices, which is likely to be above 1MW but less than 10MW, would also be of value. It was considered that the benefit of grouped devices would be enhanced by further development to reduce technical risk. The study also revealed evidence of grouped devices being commercially unfeasible at demonstrator stage due to high costs associated with early deployment. Development of a roadmap for funding, commercial and logistical deployment of large scale WECs was therefore recommended.