IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v11y2018i8p2036-d162150.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatial Environmental Assessment Tool (SEAT): A Modeling Tool to Evaluate Potential Environmental Risks Associated with Wave Energy Converter Deployments

Author

Listed:
  • Craig Jones

    (Integral Consulting Inc., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA)

  • Grace Chang

    (Integral Consulting Inc., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA)

  • Kaustubha Raghukumar

    (Integral Consulting Inc., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA)

  • Samuel McWilliams

    (Integral Consulting Inc., Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA)

  • Ann Dallman

    (Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA)

  • Jesse Roberts

    (Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM 87123, USA)

Abstract

Wave energy converter (WEC) arrays deployed in coastal regions may create physical disturbances, potentially resulting in environmental stresses. Presently, limited information is available on the nature of these physical disturbance or the resultant effects. A quantitative Spatial Environmental Assessment Tool (SEAT) for evaluating the potential effects of wave energy converter (WEC) arrays on nearshore hydrodynamics and sediment transport is presented for the central Oregon coast (USA) through coupled numerical model simulations of an array of WECs. Derived climatological wave conditions were used as inputs to the model to allow for the calculation of risk metrics associated with various hydrodynamic and sediment transport variables such as maximum shear stress, bottom velocity, and change in bed elevation. The risk maps provided simple, quantitative, and spatially-resolved means of evaluating physical changes in the vicinity of a hypothetical WEC array in response to varying wave conditions. The near-field risk of sediment mobility was determined to be moderate in the lee of the densely spaced array, where the potential for increased sediment deposition could result in benthic habitat alteration. Modifications to the nearshore sediment deposition and erosion patterns were observed near headlands and topographic features, which could have implications for littoral sediment transport. The results illustrate the benefits of a risk evaluation tool for facilitating coastal resource management at early market marine renewable energy sites.

Suggested Citation

  • Craig Jones & Grace Chang & Kaustubha Raghukumar & Samuel McWilliams & Ann Dallman & Jesse Roberts, 2018. "Spatial Environmental Assessment Tool (SEAT): A Modeling Tool to Evaluate Potential Environmental Risks Associated with Wave Energy Converter Deployments," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-19, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:8:p:2036-:d:162150
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/8/2036/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/11/8/2036/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tănase Zanopol, Andrei & Onea, Florin & Rusu, Eugen, 2014. "Coastal impact assessment of a generic wave farm operating in the Romanian nearshore," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 652-670.
    2. Chang, G. & Ruehl, K. & Jones, C.A. & Roberts, J. & Chartrand, C., 2016. "Numerical modeling of the effects of wave energy converter characteristics on nearshore wave conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 636-648.
    3. Babarit, A. & Hals, J. & Muliawan, M.J. & Kurniawan, A. & Moan, T. & Krokstad, J., 2012. "Numerical benchmarking study of a selection of wave energy converters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 44-63.
    4. Beels, Charlotte & Troch, Peter & De Visch, Kenneth & Kofoed, Jens Peter & De Backer, Griet, 2010. "Application of the time-dependent mild-slope equations for the simulation of wake effects in the lee of a farm of Wave Dragon wave energy converters," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 35(8), pages 1644-1661.
    5. Louise O’Boyle & Björn Elsäßer & Trevor Whittaker, 2017. "Experimental Measurement of Wave Field Variations around Wave Energy Converter Arrays," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, January.
    6. García-Medina, Gabriel & Özkan-Haller, H. Tuba & Ruggiero, Peter, 2014. "Wave resource assessment in Oregon and southwest Washington, USA," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 203-214.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. David, Daniel R. & Rijnsdorp, Dirk P. & Hansen, Jeff E. & Lowe, Ryan J. & Buckley, Mark L., 2022. "Predicting coastal impacts by wave farms: A comparison of wave-averaged and wave-resolving models," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 764-780.
    2. Galparsoro, I. & Korta, M. & Subirana, I. & Borja, Á. & Menchaca, I. & Solaun, O. & Muxika, I. & Iglesias, G. & Bald, J., 2021. "A new framework and tool for ecological risk assessment of wave energy converters projects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Hong-wei Fang & Ru-nan Song & Zhao-xia Xiao, 2018. "Optimal Design of Permanent Magnet Linear Generator and Its Application in a Wave Energy Conversion System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-12, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aristodemo, Francesco & Algieri Ferraro, Danilo, 2018. "Feasibility of WEC installations for domestic and public electrical supplies: A case study off the Calabrian coast," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 261-285.
    2. Stratigaki, Vasiliki & Troch, Peter & Forehand, David, 2019. "A fundamental coupling methodology for modeling near-field and far-field wave effects of floating structures and wave energy devices," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 1608-1627.
    3. Louise O’Boyle & Björn Elsäßer & Trevor Whittaker, 2017. "Experimental Measurement of Wave Field Variations around Wave Energy Converter Arrays," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Rusu, Eugen & Onea, Florin, 2016. "Estimation of the wave energy conversion efficiency in the Atlantic Ocean close to the European islands," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 687-703.
    5. Coe, Ryan G. & Ahn, Seongho & Neary, Vincent S. & Kobos, Peter H. & Bacelli, Giorgio, 2021. "Maybe less is more: Considering capacity factor, saturation, variability, and filtering effects of wave energy devices," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 291(C).
    6. López-Ruiz, Alejandro & Bergillos, Rafael J. & Lira-Loarca, Andrea & Ortega-Sánchez, Miguel, 2018. "A methodology for the long-term simulation and uncertainty analysis of the operational lifetime performance of wave energy converter arrays," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 153(C), pages 126-135.
    7. Rusu, Liliana & Onea, Florin, 2017. "The performance of some state-of-the-art wave energy converters in locations with the worldwide highest wave power," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1348-1362.
    8. Onea, Florin & Rusu, Eugen, 2016. "The expected efficiency and coastal impact of a hybrid energy farm operating in the Portuguese nearshore," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 411-423.
    9. Robertson, Bryson & Bailey, Helen & Clancy, Dan & Ortiz, Juan & Buckham, Bradley, 2016. "Influence of wave resource assessment methodology on wave energy production estimates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 1145-1160.
    10. Yang, Zhaoqing & Neary, Vincent S. & Wang, Taiping & Gunawan, Budi & Dallman, Annie R. & Wu, Wei-Cheng, 2017. "A wave model test bed study for wave energy resource characterization," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PA), pages 132-144.
    11. Chang, Grace & Jones, Craig A. & Roberts, Jesse D. & Neary, Vincent S., 2018. "A comprehensive evaluation of factors affecting the levelized cost of wave energy conversion projects," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 344-354.
    12. Iglesias, G. & Carballo, R., 2014. "Wave farm impact: The role of farm-to-coast distance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 375-385.
    13. Rusu, Liliana & Onea, Florin, 2015. "Assessment of the performances of various wave energy converters along the European continental coasts," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 889-904.
    14. David, Daniel R. & Rijnsdorp, Dirk P. & Hansen, Jeff E. & Lowe, Ryan J. & Buckley, Mark L., 2022. "Predicting coastal impacts by wave farms: A comparison of wave-averaged and wave-resolving models," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 764-780.
    15. Lo Re, Carlo & Manno, Giorgio & Basile, Mirko & Ciraolo, Giuseppe, 2022. "The opportunity of using wave energy converters in a Mediterranean hot spot," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 1095-1114.
    16. Christopher Stokes & Daniel C. Conley, 2018. "Modelling Offshore Wave farms for Coastal Process Impact Assessment: Waves, Beach Morphology, and Water Users," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-26, September.
    17. Astariz, S. & Perez-Collazo, C. & Abanades, J. & Iglesias, G., 2015. "Co-located wave-wind farms: Economic assessment as a function of layout," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 837-849.
    18. Zhigang Liu & Jin Wang & Tao Tao & Ziyun Zhang & Siyi Chen & Yang Yi & Shuang Han & Yongqian Liu, 2023. "Wave Power Prediction Based on Seasonal and Trend Decomposition Using Locally Weighted Scatterplot Smoothing and Dual-Channel Seq2Seq Model," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-17, November.
    19. Shi, Hongda & Zhao, Chenyu & Hann, Martyn & Greaves, Deborah & Han, Zhi & Cao, Feifei, 2019. "WHTO: A methodology of calculating the energy extraction of wave energy convertors based on wave height reduction," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 299-315.
    20. Yu, Hui-Feng & Zhang, Yong-Liang & Zheng, Si-Ming, 2016. "Numerical study on the performance of a wave energy converter with three hinged bodies," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 1276-1286.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:8:p:2036-:d:162150. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.