Assessing Hydrokinetic Energy in the Mexican Caribbean: A Case Study in the Cozumel Channel

This paper presents a techno-economic assessment of hydrokinetic energy of Cozumel Island, where ocean currents have been detected, but tourist activities are paramount. The main objective of this research is to identify devices that have been used to harvest hydrokinetic power elsewhere and perform...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energies (Basel) 2021-08, Vol.14 (15), p.4411
Main Authors: Bárcenas Graniel, Juan F., Fontes, Jassiel V. H., Garcia, Hector F. Gomez, Silva, Rodolfo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alternative energy sources
Capacity factor
Case studies
Coasts
Consortia
Consumption
cozumel
developing regions
Economic analysis
Electricity
Energy harvesting
Energy resources
environmental constraints
Environmental requirements
Feasibility studies
Flux density
Kinetic energy
marine turbines
ocean current energy
Ocean currents
techno-economic analysis
Tourist activities
Turbines
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Summary:This paper presents a techno-economic assessment of hydrokinetic energy of Cozumel Island, where ocean currents have been detected, but tourist activities are paramount. The main objective of this research is to identify devices that have been used to harvest hydrokinetic power elsewhere and perform an economic analysis as to their implementation in the Mexican Caribbean. First, the energy potential of the area was evaluated using simulated data available through the HYCOM consortium. Then, for four pre-commercial and commercial turbines, technical and economic analyses of their deployments were performed. Socio-environmental constraints were reviewed and discussed. Three optimal sites were identified, with an average annual hydrokinetic energy density of 3–6 MWh/m2-year. These sites meet the socio-environmental requirements for marine kinetic energy harvesting. Of the turbines considered in the analysis, the best energy price/cost ratio is that of SeaGen device, with a maximum theoretical energy extraction of 1319 MWh/year with a Capacity Factor of 12.5% and a Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE) of 1148 USD/MWh. Using this device, but assuming a site-specific design that achieves at least 25% of Capacity Factor, 20-year useful life, and a discount rate of 0.125, the LCOE would be 685.6 USD/MWh. The approach presented here can be applied for techno-economic analyses of marine turbines in other regions.
ISSN:1996-1073
1996-1073
DOI:10.3390/en14154411