An Up-to-Date Technologies Review and Evaluation of Wave Energy Converters

Hosna Titah-Benbouzid (1) , Mohamed Benbouzid (1)

1 LBMS - Laboratoire brestois de mécanique et des systèmes

– The potential of electric power generation from marine renewable energy is enormous. Ocean waves are being recognized as a resource to be exploited for the sustainable generation of electrical power. The high load factors resulting from the fluid properties and the predictable resource characteristics make ocean waves particularly attractive for power generation and advantageous when compared to other renewable energies. Regarding this emerging and promising area of research, this paper presents a complete review of wave energy technologies describing, analyzing and fixing many of the concepts behind wave energy conversion. The proposed review will specifically highlights the main wave energy conversion projects around the world at different levels (demonstration stage, in production, and commercialized projects). In particular, mooring will be discussed, as it is a key feature behind massive deployment of wave energy converters. Finally, a discussion will highlight challenges that wave energy converters need to overcome to become commercially competitive in the global energy market. Nomenclature WEC = Wave Energy Converter; PTO = Power TakeOff ; P w_f = Power per meter of wave front; P w_mcl = Power per meter crest length; ρ = Water density (approximately 1000 kg/m 3); g = Gravity acceleration; A = Wave amplitude; T = Wave period.

Mots clés: Marine renewable energy; wave energy converter; design; challenges

Domaines: Energie électrique

Hosna Titah-Benbouzid, Mohamed Benbouzid. An Up-to-Date Technologies Review and Evaluation of Wave Energy Converters. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING-IREE, 2015, 10 (1), pp.52-61. ⟨10.15866/iree.v10i1.5159⟩. ⟨hal-01153767⟩