Wave energy in the Balearic Sea. Evolution from a 29 year spectral wave hindcast

• Published in: Renewable energy 2016-01, Vol.85, p.1192-1200
• Main Authors: Ponce de León, S., Orfila, A., Simarro, G.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ASCAT; Mediterranean Sea; TOPEX-Poseidon; WAM model; Wave climate variability; Wave energy
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2015.07.076

This work studies the wave energy availability in the Western Mediterranean Sea using wave simulation from January 1983 to December 2011. The model implemented is the WAM, forced by the ECMWF ERA-Interim wind fields. The Advanced Scatterometer (ASCAT) data from MetOp satellite and the TOPEX-Poseidon altimetry data are used to assess the quality of the wind fields and WAM results respectively. Results from the hindcast are the starting point to analyse the potentiality of obtaining wave energy around the Balearic Islands Archipelago. The comparison of the 29 year hindcast against wave buoys located in Western, Central and Eastern basins shows a high correlation between the hindcasted and the measured significant wave height (Hs), indicating a proper representation of spatial and temporal variability of Hs. It is found that the energy flux at the Balearic coasts range from 9.1 kW/m, in the north of Menorca Island, to 2.5 kW/m in the vicinity of the Bay of Palma. The energy flux is around 5 and 6 times lower in summer as compared to winter. •Wave climate for the Balearic Island Archipelago has been analyzed by performing a 29 year hindcast.•Energy flux presents large variability with mean values of 9.1 ± 2.5 kW/m at the North of Menorca Island.•Energy flux presents large seasonal variation, 6 times larger in the winter than in the summer.