Weber, J. and Costello, R. and Mouwen, F. and Ringwood, John and Thomas, G. (2010) Techno-economic WEC system optimisation – Methodology applied to Wavebob system definition. In: 3rd International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE), 6th October, 2010, Bilbao.

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Abstract

The overall system optimisation of wave energy converters remains a challenging task. Firstly, this is associated with the large number of system parameters and their related constraints, secondly, the complexity of numerical system representations capturing overall system behaviour and, thirdly, the uncertainties in the prediction and formulation of appropriate overall economic system performance objectives. The parameterisation and the modelling challenges require a staged approach for an overall system optimisation. This ranges from simplified system representations exposed to variations within a large parameter space to more sophisticated system models subject to evaluation for a reduced and focused parameter zone. The description of the system dynamics, operation and performance needs to capture the key characteristics of the WEC concept functionality, the technical implementation and the economic application from the beginning and throughout the optimisation and development process. The paper describes the problems that are associated with the widely employed sequential development of wave energy converter (WEC) systems from concept through technology to economic application and presents the methodology applied to the overall techno-economic system optimisation and development process of Wavebob WECs.

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Keywords:	Economic performance; technology development; WEC system optimisation;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Electronic Engineering Faculty of Science and Engineering > Research Institutes > Centre for Ocean Energy Research
Item ID:	3607
Depositing User:	Professor John Ringwood
Date Deposited:	01 May 2012 08:45
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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