Feasibility Study of the Installation of Wave Energy Converters in Existing Breakwaters in the North of Spain
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applied sciences Article Feasibility Study of the Installation of Wave Energy Converters in Existing Breakwaters in the North of Spain M. Carmen Lacasa 1, M. Dolores Esteban 1,*, José-Santos López-Gutiérrez 1 , Vicente Negro 1 and Zhipeng Zang 2 1 Grupo de Investigación de Medio Marino, Costero y Portuario, y Otras Áreas Sensibles, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; [email protected] (M.C.L.); [email protected] (J.-S.L.-G.); [email protected] (V.N.) 2 State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 1 November 2019; Accepted: 23 November 2019; Published: 1 December 2019 Abstract: In a context of growing global awareness of environmental sustainability, given the risks associated with global warming and climate change, the transition from environmental models to highly intensive fossil fuel production towards new clean energy systems marks the future of global public agendas. In this scenario, a feasibility study of the installation of wave energy converters, such as the Sea Slot-Cone Generator (SSG) and the Oscillating Water Column (OWC), was carried out in existing breakwaters in the North of Spain, choosing Punta Langosteira (Outer Port of A Coruña), Dique Torres and Dique Norte (Port el Musel, Gijón) and Punta Lucero (Port of Bilbao). It was aimed at capturing the great energy potential of the Atlantic Ocean, as an innovative solution linked to the development of renewable energy sources of marine origin. The selection of the most optimal and efficient alternative will depend on different aspects: the quantitative availability of the wave energy resource at the study points, the production of energy obtained by the device and the capacity factor, the capacity of the wave energy facility to supply the energy consumption in every port to boost the image of “Green Port”, the constructive viability so that the condition of having the construction works only during one year and an economic estimation of each alternative. Keywords: wave energy; sea slot-cone generator wave energy converter; oscillating water column; numerical model; wave propagation 1. Introduction Currently, the world is still highly dependent on fossil fuels. The fact that climate change and global warming are happening is hard to deny. The consequences are becoming increasingly devastating and humanity is to blame. One of these consequences is directly noticeable, as the rise in sea level can be estimated every year, and it does not stop increasing. In Spain, this rise can be estimated between 3 and 5 mm a year, although this value is not uniform along the whole coastline. The prediction for the first half of the 21st century forecasts a sea level rise of more than 3 cm in the Cantabrian coast, between 15 and 20 cm in the Mediterranean Sea and 10 in the Gulf of Cadiz, South West of Spain, in the Atlantic Ocean [1]. It should also be highlighted that numerous parts of the planet have become richer and more powerful due to the intensive use of the reserves of fossil energy, increasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions, without taking into account the environmental risks, the pollution and the biodegradation. Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 5225; doi:10.3390/app9235225 www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci Appl. Sci. 2019, 9, 5225 2 of 31 For this reason, energy sources must be combined by eliminating the use of coal and oil and encouraging the use of other energies. The development of renewable energies is the key to achieving this purposeAppl. Sci. 2019 since, 9, 5225 they represent an inexhaustible energy source. Furthermore, they lead to2 of a 31 much smaller environmental impact. The main objective is how to make them more competitive and attractive in a way eForffective. this reason, energy sources must be combined by eliminating the use of coal and oil and Amongencouraging all the use new of other sources energies. of existing The development renewable of energies,renewable waveenergies energy is the key is oneto ach ofieving the most this purpose since they represent an inexhaustible energy source. Furthermore, they lead to a much promising, based on the idea of extracting energy from waves and turning it into electricity. It presents smaller environmental impact. The main objective is how to make them more competitive and many advantages over other types of energies: it is a predictable resource, it counts with a high capacity attractive in a way effective. of electricAmong power all production, the new sources it has of an existing acceptable renewable capacity energies, factor wave and itenergy makes is aone less of visualthe most impact. Furthermore,promising, current based waveon the energy idea of facilities extracting do notenergy need from any waves external and source turning to getit into started; electricity. wave It power is enoughpresents for many it to startadvantages working. over other types of energies: it is a predictable resource, it counts with a Thishigh leadscapacity to of the electric necessity power of production, applying an it integralhas an acceptable model for capacity the design factor ofand this it makes type of a facilities,less namelyvisual the impact. purpose Furthermore, of the model current to achieve wave energy technical, facilities economical do not need and any environmental external source viability, to get all withinstarted; a sustainable wave power development is enough for framework it to start working. [2]. Part of this sustainable development also leads to a correct designThis leads and planificationto the necessity of of the applying future infrastructuresan integral model in for order the design that they of this could type be of adapted facilities, to the namely the purpose of the model to achieve technical, economical and environmental viability, all future progress of technology. within a sustainable development framework [2]. Part of this sustainable development also leads to Despite all of these advantages, the exploitation of wave energy is still in its infancy in every field a correct design and planification of the future infrastructures in order that they could be adapted to of thethe marine future energies,progress of in technology which great. efforts must be done. The uncertainties in the design of almost of technologyDespite is justifiedall of these by advantages, the “limited” the field exploitation experience of wave and energy in the reviewis still in of its the infancy existing in every standards and recommendationsfield of the marine energies, nowadays in [which3]. The great main efforts reason must is be due done to the. The pending uncertainties technological in the design challenges. of Althoughalmost the of futuretechnology of that is justified resource by otheffers “limited” many possibilitiesfield experience in coastaland in the regions review with of the a highexisting energy maritimestandards climate, and recommendation the intense researchs nowadays being [3]. carried The main out willreason lead is due to theto the maximum pending technological efficiency in the comingchallenges. years. Although the future of that resource offers many possibilities in coastal regions with a Thehigh privilegedenergy maritime geographical climate, the situation intense of research the Iberian being Peninsula,carried out withwill lead the westto the and maximum north coast efficiency in the coming years. lapped by the Atlantic Ocean, make it the ideal place to take advantage of the great wave energy The privileged geographical situation of the Iberian Peninsula, with the west and north coast Atlas del potencial del recurso de la potentiallapped as by numerous the Atlantic studies Ocean, have make shown it the ideal (see place Figure to1 ).take The advantage “ of the great wave energy energípotentiala de las olas as numerous en el litoral stud españolies have” (in shown English: (see “Atlas Figure of 1 wave). The energy“Atlas del resource potencial in del the recurso Spanish de coast”)la report,energía written de las by olas the en “elInstituto litoral español para” la (in Diversificaci English: “Atlasón y of Ahorro wave energy de la Energ resourceía” (in in the English: Spanish “Institute coast”) for Diversificationreport, written and by Energy the “Instituto Saving”), para confirmedla Diversificación those y results.Ahorro de It la showed Energía” that(in English: the north “Institute coast offor Spain (Galicia,Diversification Asturias, andand Energy Basque Saving”), Country) confirm is theed area those with results. thegreatest It showed potential, that the north with coast 13 kW of /Spainm during the summer(Galicia, periodAsturias, and and 70 Basque kW/m Country) during is the the winter area with (see the Figure greatest2). potential, In addition, with the 13 kW/m most interestingduring areasthe for summer harnessing period the and wave 70 kW/m resource during power the arewinter the (see Galician Figure coast, 2). In asaddition, it represents the most the interesting area with the greatestareas potential for harnessing in Spain, the wave with resource maximum power values are the above Galician 35 kW coast,/m, as and it represents the Cantabrian the area coast, with the with an greatest potential in Spain, with maximum values above 35 kW/m, and the Cantabrian coast, with an average of maximum values around 30 kW/m [4,5]. average of maximum values around 30 kW/m [4,5]. FigureFigure 1. Wave1. Wave power power distribution, distribution, in