Energetic Potential Assessment of Wind-Driven Waves on the South-Southeastern Brazilian Shelf

Abstract

Global electric energy demand is constantly growing, consequently leading towards the usage of renewable energy sources reducing pollution and increasing sustainability. The ocean is a poorly explored renewable energy source; thus, to evaluate the Brazilian wave energy budget, this study investigated the mean behaviour of the wave power rate on the south-southeastern Brazilian Shelf as well as analysed the temporal variability of the wave power rate at the most energetic locations near the coast. Three locations were examined, namely Laguna, Ilhabela and Farol Island, based on the criteria of high means and small standard deviations. The mean wave power rate was approximately 9 . 08 k W / m on Laguna, 10 . 01 k W / m on Ilhabela and 15 . 93 k W / m on Farol Island. The standard deviation identified in the three locations reached values of 6 . 47 k W / m on Laguna, 7 . 59 k W / m on Ilhabela and 13 . 51 k W / m on Farol Island. Temporal variability analysis was conducted through wavelet analysis. The results show a dominant yearly cycle with a background presence of synoptic cycles, with little deviation between the locations. The El Niño southern oscillation plays a minor role on the energy spectrum of Laguna and does not have a significant influence on Ilhabela and Farol Island.

Keywords

• wave power
• Brazilian continental shelf
• numerical simulation
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• Tomawac%22%2C%22default_operator%22%3A%22AND%22%7D%7D%7D"> ">Tomawac</span>
• renewable energy