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Category Physics & Science

1. Select Location

Region Data: Custom

2. Sea State Parameters

Sig. Wave Height (m)

Wave Period (s)

Water Depth (m)

Depth < 50m reduces energy via friction.

3. Technology & Scale

WEC Device Type

Array Width / Coast (km)

Include Transmission Loss (5%) Apply Availability Factor (90%)

Moderate Sea

Wave Power Flux

0.00 kW/m

Raw energy density

Net Capacity

0.00 MW

Installed Array Output

Annual Production

0.00 GWh

Yearly contribution

🏠 0 Homes Powered

☁️ 0 Tons CO₂ Avoided

Power Matrix (kW/m) at Current Depth

Wave Period (s) →

Height (m) ↑

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About

Wave energy conversion represents one of the most dense forms of renewable generation. Unlike wind or solar, the energy density of ocean waves is concentrated; the power flux is measured in kilowatts per meter of wavefront (kW/m) rather than square meters. Precise assessment requires distinguishing between the Theoretical Resource (gross energy in the sea state) and the Technical Resource (energy harvestable by specific device topologies).

This tool serves engineers and researchers by modeling the stochastic nature of sea states. It utilizes the deep-water dispersion relation and allows for shallow-water adjustments where bottom friction (C_f) reduces energy. It integrates a Capture Width Ratio (CWR) mechanism to simulate hydrodynamic efficiency across different device types (e.g., Point Absorbers vs. Terminators). Use this for feasibility studies, determining the Annual Energy Production (AEP), and estimating the environmental offset in terms of carbon reduction.

Formulas

The total wave power flux (J) per unit length of wave crest in deep water is determined by the fluid density and the group velocity of the wave. The governing equation for irregular waves using Significant Wave Height (H_s) and Energy Period (T_e) is:

J = ρg²64π ⋅ H_s² ⋅ T_e

For standard seawater (ρ = 1025 kg/m³), this simplifies to:

J ≈ 0.491 ⋅ H_s² ⋅ T_e (kW/m)

To calculate Annual Energy Production (AEP), we account for the coastline length (L), the device Capture Width Ratio (CWR), transmission efficiency (η_t), and annual availability (A):

AEP = J × L × CWR × η_t × A × 8760 hours

Reference Data

Region / Basin	Avg H_s (m)	Avg T_e (s)	Power Density (kW/m)	Dominant Season
North Atlantic (Scotland/Ireland)	2.5	9.0	27.5	Winter
North Sea (Netherlands/DK)	1.5	6.0	6.6	Winter
US Pacific (Oregon/Washington)	2.2	8.5	20.1	Winter
Southern Ocean (Australia/NZ)	3.0	10.0	44.1	Year-round
Portugal (Atlantic Coast)	2.0	8.0	15.7	Winter
Japan (Pacific Coast)	1.3	6.5	5.4	Variable
Chile (Central Coast)	2.8	9.5	36.4	Year-round
South Africa (Cape Town)	2.6	9.2	30.4	Winter
Gulf of Mexico	0.8	4.5	1.4	Summer (Storms)
Mediterranean (Western)	1.0	5.0	2.4	Winter

Frequently Asked Questions

A Power Matrix (or Scatter Diagram) maps the occurrence of specific Height/Period combinations at a location. A device is tuned to resonate at specific frequencies. If the device's peak efficiency curve does not match the most frequent cells in the site's Power Matrix, the theoretical high energy of the site cannot be harvested efficiently.

The standard formula assumes "Deep Water" (depth > 1/2 wavelength). As waves enter shallow water, they interact with the seabed. Friction causes energy loss, and the group velocity changes. In shallow water (< 50m), the power potential typically decreases by 10-25% depending on the seabed slope and roughness.

CWR is a dimensionless efficiency metric. It represents the width of the wave front that contains the same amount of power as the device extracts. For example, if a device extracts 100kW from a wave field with 20kW/m flux, its Capture Width is 5 meters. If the device is 10 meters wide, the CWR is 0.5 (50%).

Significant Wave Height (Hs) corresponds to what a trained observer sees visually (average of the highest 1/3 waves). Root Mean Square (Hrms) is a statistical measure. Energy calculations almost exclusively use Hs (or Hm0) because the energy content scales with the square of the height, and Hs better captures the higher-energy components of the spectrum.

While wind turbines often achieve 35-45% capacity factors, wave energy is currently less mature. Early commercial projects target 25-35%. Availability (uptime) is the biggest challenge due to the harsh saltwater environment affecting maintenance schedules.