Characterization of a Feasibility Space for a New Technology – A Case Study of Wave Energy in Southern Brazil

Title:Characterization of a Feasibility Space for a New Technology – A Case Study of Wave Energy in Southern Brazil

Volume: 2

Author(s): Jones S. Silva and Alexandre Beluco*

Affiliation:

• Institute of Hydraulic Research (IPH), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av Bento Goncalves, 9500, PO Box 15029, 90.620-110, Porto Alegre, RS,Brazil

Keywords: Computational simulation, feasibility space, hybrid systems, ocean wave energy, software homer, southern Brazil.

Abstract: Background: Currently there are several renewable resources in different stages of technological maturation. Among different alternatives, wave energy has some initiatives at an advanced stage of development and is one of the most promising alternatives. In the process of developing wave energy conversion devices, as well as developing other alternatives, the limits that must be satisfied to achieve feasibility would be a powerful tool for technology managers.

Method: This paper proposes a feasibility space as being the set of key parameter values for technical and economic viability that must be satisfied by devices in development. This article also determines the feasibility space that must be satisfied in the current moment by devices for converting wave energy to the feasibility of a wave power plant in the southernmost coast of Brazil.

Results: The results indicate that, for the conditions considered in the simulations, wave power plants will be feasible, for energy at USD$ 0.05 / kWh, USD$ 0.10 / kWh and USD$ 0.15 / kWh, if they can be implemented with costs between USD$ 616.01 / kW and USD$ 2,865.37 / kW respectively for efficiencies between 20% and 40%. These values are extremely low, comparable to values for already mature alternatives such as hydropower and wind energy.

Conclusion: The definition of a viability space allows the establishment of an objective to be achieved so that generating plants based on renewable resources not yet exploited can become viable. This paper presented the feasibility space for the generation of energy from ocean waves on the southern coast of Brazil.

Cite this article as:

Silva S. Jones and Beluco Alexandre*, Characterization of a Feasibility Space for a New Technology – A Case Study of Wave Energy in Southern Brazil, Current Alternative Energy 2018; 2 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570178615666180830102336