energies Article Assessing Hydrokinetic Energy in the Mexican Caribbean: A Case Study in the Cozumel Channel Juan F. Bárcenas Graniel 1,2,* , Jassiel V. H. Fontes 3 , Hector F. Gomez Garcia 1 and Rodolfo Silva 2 1 Departamento de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad del Caribe, SM. 78, Manzana 1, Lote 1, Esq. Fraccionamiento Tabachines, Cancun 77528, Mexico;
[email protected] 2 Coordinación de Hidráulica, Instituto de Ingeniería, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edificio 17, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, Mexico;
[email protected] 3 Departamento de Engenharia Naval, Escola Superior de Tecnologia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Av. Darcy Vargas, 1200, Parque Dez de Novembro, Manaus 69050-020, Brazil;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] Abstract: 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 HY- COM 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 Citation: Bárcenas Graniel, J.F.; Fontes, J.V.H.; Garcia, H.F.G.; Silva, R.