Assessment of the wave energy resource in the South China Sea

Abstract

Assessments of wave energy resources form the basis of plans for developing and using wave energy, and provide guidance about where to site wave power stations and how to design wave energy convertors. Various indexes, including the spatial and temporal distributions of wave energy fluxes, the occurrence of the effective significant wave height, monthly and seasonal variability and the frequency of high sea states, were calculated from the recent 37-year European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts ERA-Interim reanalysis of wave field data. The results showed that areas with abundant and stable exploitable wave energy in the South China Sea were mainly between the Luzon Strait and the southeast of the Indo-China Peninsula, where the annual average wave energy fluxes ranged from 10 to 18 kW/m and the monthly and seasonal variability indexes were less than 2·2 and 1·6, respectively. The wave energy was found to be poor in some coastal areas of the Beibu Gulf, the Gulf of Thailand and the Sulu Sea. In the areas where wave energy was abundant, high sea states occurred frequently, meaning that it was relatively difficult to use the energy. Therefore, the wave energy resources and the frequency of high sea states need to be considered when choosing sites for wave energy farms.

Renewable Wave Energy Potential for the Sustainable Offshore Oil Platforms in South China Sea

“…The device needs to be attached to form a lever that will allow the wave energy conversion into a new form of energy. The lever is attached to a dashpot to convert the mechanical energy into heat [4]. Wave energy converters (WECs) harness the energy from the ocean, converting wave energy into electricity [23].…”

“…(c) Electricity distribution costs will be reduced due to the expensive sea-bed power cables. (d) Maintenance costs will be lesser because of greater accessibility [4]. Due to its wide variety, WECs can be categorized into different ways.…”

“…= Seawater density (1.025 g/cm 3 ), H = Maximum wave height (2x HS) (m). HS = Significant wave height (m)…”

“…As a case study, three regions of Malaysia from the SCS, are considered here for the feasibility of the wave energy converter and the best location for wave energy farm development. It has been assumed in many studies that it is considered that wave energy is available in the ocean when the mean wave energy flux is 1 kW/m or higher [3]. It is also considered in this study that rough and disruptive waves during high seas (typhoon and storms), can cause serious damage to the Wave Energy Converters such as Significant wave height is greater than 4.0 [4].…”

“…It has been assumed in many studies that it is considered that wave energy is available in the ocean when the mean wave energy flux is 1 kW/m or higher [3]. It is also considered in this study that rough and disruptive waves during high seas (typhoon and storms), can cause serious damage to the Wave Energy Converters such as Significant wave height is greater than 4.0 [4].…”