Perspectives for harnessing the energetic persistent high swells reaching the coast of Chile

Abstract

The wave climate along the Pacific Chilean coast and its possible exploitation for marine energy generation between latitudes 33.00°S and 40.50°S are evaluated. A database of hindcast wave spectra in coastal waters between 1989 and 2013 is used to perform the analysis at four different depths: 15m, 20m, 50m, and 100m. Monthly wave power and mean wave direction statistics between deep and shallower water (20m) are analyzed. Furthermore, the variability of wave statistics is compared for the four different shallow-to-intermediate water depths and latitudes. The performance of five wave energy devices is assessed under their best operating conditions in terms of water depth: SeaPower, OEBuoy, Wavestar, CETO, and Seabased. Median Produced Electrical Power, Capacity Factor and Capture Width Ratio are computed for the 24 years of the database. These devices are divided in two categories, the WECs with higher rated power (1200) and the lower rated power devices (1200). These devices are compared considering an average performance along the coast during the whole period. Among the formers OEBuoy stood out for Cf and CWR (on average: :318.02 kW, Cf:12.7% and CWR:19.96%), while among the last group CETO 50m highlighted for and CWR (on average: :15.39 kW, Cf:6.70% and CWR:7.74%).