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Economic Assessment of Overtopping BReakwater for Energy Conversion (OBREC): A Case Study in Western Australia

Author

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  • Pasquale Contestabile

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Design, Building and Environment, Second University of Napoli, via Roma, 29, 81031 Aversa (Caserta), Italy)

  • Enrico Di Lauro

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Design, Building and Environment, Second University of Napoli, via Roma, 29, 81031 Aversa (Caserta), Italy)

  • Mariano Buccino

    (Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Napoli Federico II, via Claudio, 21, 80125 Napoli, Italy)

  • Diego Vicinanza

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Design, Building and Environment, Second University of Napoli, via Roma, 29, 81031 Aversa (Caserta), Italy
    Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy)

Abstract

This paper constructs an optimal configuration assessment, in terms of the financial returns, of the Overtopping BReakwater for wave Energy Conversion (OBREC). This technology represents a hybrid wave energy harvester, totally embedded in traditional rubble mound breakwaters. Nine case studies along the southern coast of Western Australia have been analysed. The technique provides tips on how to estimate the quality of the investments, for benchmarking with different turbine strategy layouts and overlapping with the costs of traditional rubble mound breakwaters. Analyses of the offshore and nearshore wave climate have been studied by a high resolution coastal propagation model, forced with wave data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). Inshore wave conditions have been used to quantify the exploitable resources. It has been demonstrated that the optimal investment strategy is nonlinearly dependent on potential electricity production due to outer technical constraints. The work emphasizes the importance of integrating energy production predictions in an economic decision framework for prioritizing adaptation investments.

Suggested Citation

  • Pasquale Contestabile & Enrico Di Lauro & Mariano Buccino & Diego Vicinanza, 2016. "Economic Assessment of Overtopping BReakwater for Energy Conversion (OBREC): A Case Study in Western Australia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-28, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2016:i:1:p:51-:d:86585
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    3. Raúl Cascajo & Emilio García & Eduardo Quiles & Antonio Correcher & Francisco Morant, 2019. "Integration of Marine Wave Energy Converters into Seaports: A Case Study in the Port of Valencia," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-24, February.
    4. Luca Martinelli & Matteo Volpato & Chiara Favaretto & Piero Ruol, 2019. "Hydraulic Experiments on a Small-Scale Wave Energy Converter with an Unconventional Dummy Pto," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-12, March.
    5. George Lavidas & Francesco De Leo & Giovanni Besio, 2020. "Blue Growth Development in the Mediterranean Sea: Quantifying the Benefits of an Integrated Wave Energy Converter at Genoa Harbour," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-14, August.
    6. Tunde Aderinto & Hua Li, 2019. "Review on Power Performance and Efficiency of Wave Energy Converters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-24, November.
    7. Zhao, Xuanlie & Ning, Dezhi, 2018. "Experimental investigation of breakwater-type WEC composed of both stationary and floating pontoons," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 226-233.
    8. Fouad Salimi & Maryam Rahbani & Bijan Mohammadi, 2018. "Feasibility assessment for installing Sea-wave Slot-cone Generator breakwater in the Iranian coasts of Persian Gulf and Oman Sea," Energy & Environment, , vol. 29(1), pages 95-108, February.
    9. Zheng, Siming & Zhang, Yongliang & Iglesias, Gregorio, 2020. "Power capture performance of hybrid wave farms combining different wave energy conversion technologies: The H-factor," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    10. George Lavidas & John K. Kaldellis, 2020. "Assessing Renewable Resources at the Saronikos Gulf for the Development of Multi-Generation Renewable Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-22, November.

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