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

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 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.

A Design Procedure for Anchors of Floating Ocean Current Turbines on Weak Rock

“…The current there is part of the ocean and wind-driven circulation system and so is persistent all year round in direction and magnitude. Recent studies show the hydrokinetic energy at this location offers great potential, both in shallow and deep water [10,11]. Unlike the sea floor in most parts of the world, the seabed of the Mexican Caribbean is predominantly limestone, covered with a thin layer of finer sediment [12], something relatively common in tropical and subtropical zones.…”

Design and Economic Analysis of a Hydrokinetic Turbine for Household Applications

“…They found that a 30 • inclination angle reduced the 𝐶 𝑃 from 0.45 to 0.35 and led to alternating stresses that increased fatigue strength. In tandem to optimization, several case studies have examined the applicability of hydrokinetic energy in different scenarios, including rivers, canals, coastal sea currents, irrigation systems, estuaries and outflows from pico and large hydropower plants [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Most of the works focused their analyses on Latin American countries (BR, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico), with a lower contribution from Asia (Malaysia and India), Africa (South Africa), North America (California, Louisiana and Alaska) and Europe (Portugal and Austria).…”