Techno-economical analysis of wave generation solutions

T eball de Fi de G au
G au en Enginye ia en Tecnologies Indus ials (GETI)
Techno-economical analysis o wa e
gene a ion solu ions
REPORT
Au o a: Luisa Pinyol Sa ias
Di ec o : Ma c Cheah Mañé
Con oca ò ia: Se emb e 2024
Escola Tècnica Supe io
d’Enginye ia Indus ial de Ba celona
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RESUM
En aques eball de i de g au s’ha du a e me un es udi sob e el po encial de les ones
oceàniques com a on d’ene gia eno able i la se a aplicació mi jançan ecnologies
especí iques. L’ene gia d’ones es p esen a com una al e na i a p ome edo a dins del ma c
de la ansició ene gè ica cap a sis emes més sos enibles, pe ò enca a plan eja di e sos
ep es ecnològics i econòmics que cal abo da .
El p ojec e es di ideix en una pa eò ica i una pa p àc ica. A la pa eò ica, s’anali za el
con ex ac ual de l’ene gia d’ones, les se es ca ac e ís iques p incipals i els a an a ges que
po o e i en compa ació amb al es on s d’ene gia eno ables. També es p esen en les
di e en s ecnologies disponibles pe a la con e sió d’aques a ene gia, així com els c i e is
clau pe a alua -ne la iabili a ècnica i econòmica.
La pa p àc ica se cen a en un cas d'es udi especí ic, en què es combina l'anàlisi de dades
eals sob e les condicions ma í imes amb l'a aluació de les ecnologies disponibles. A a és
d'aques p océs, es de ineixen els equisi s ècnics i ambien als necessa is pe a una
implemen ació iable. D’aques cas especí ic, es duu a e me una anàlisi ecnoeconòmica
mi jançan el càlcul d'indicado s clau de endimen .
Els esul a s del eball pe me en o mula ecomanacions pe a u u es aplicacions de
l'ene gia d'ones an a ni ell local com global, des acan la impo ància de omen a l'a enç
d'aques es ecnologies pe acili a un accés més ampli a la in o mació i edui -ne els cos os
d'implemen ació.
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RESUMEN
En es e abajo de in de g ado se ha lle ado a cabo un es udio sob e el po encial de las olas
oceánicas como uen e de ene gía eno able y su aplicación median e ecnologías
especí icas. La ene gía de las olas se p esen a como una al e na i a p ome edo a den o del
ma co de la ansición ene gé ica hacia sis emas más sos enibles, aunque oda ía plan ea
a ios e os ecnológicos y económicos que es necesa io abo da .
El p oyec o se di ide en una pa e eó ica y una pa e p ác ica. En la pa e eó ica se analiza
el con ex o ac ual de la ene gía de las olas, sus p incipales ca ac e ís icas y las en ajas que
puede o ece en compa ación con o as uen es de ene gía eno able. También se p esen an
las dis in as ecnologías disponibles pa a la con e sión de es a ene gía, así como los c i e ios
cla e pa a e alua su iabilidad écnica y económica.
La pa e p ác ica se cen a en un caso de es udio especí ico, en el que se combina el análisis
de da os eales sob e las condiciones ma í imas con la e aluación de las ecnologías
disponibles. A a és de es e p oceso se de inen los equisi os écnicos y ambien ales
necesa ios pa a una implemen ación iable. De es e caso especí ico, se lle a a cabo un
análisis ecno-económico median e el cálculo de indicado es cla e de endimien o.
Los esul ados del abajo pe mi en o mula ecomendaciones pa a u u as aplicaciones de
la ene gía de las olas an o a ni el local como global, des acando la impo ancia de omen a
los a ances en es as ecnologías pa a acili a un acceso más amplio a la in o mación y
educi los cos es de implemen ación.
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ABSTRACT
In his inal deg ee p ojec , a s udy has been conduc ed on he po en ial o ocean wa es as a
sou ce o enewable ene gy and hei applica ion h ough speci ic echnologies. Wa e ene gy
is p esen ed as a p omising al e na i e wi hin he amewo k o he ene gy ansi ion owa ds
mo e sus ainable sys ems, al hough i s ill poses se e al echnological and economic
challenges ha need o be add essed.
The p ojec is di ided in o a heo e ical pa and a p ac ical pa . The heo e ical pa analyses
he cu en con ex o wa e ene gy, i s main cha ac e is ics, and he ad an ages i can o e
compa ed o o he enewable ene gy sou ces. I also p esen s he di e en echnologies
a ailable o he con e sion o his ene gy, as well as he key c i e ia o assess i s echnical
and economic iabili y.
The p ac ical pa ocuses on a speci ic case s udy, combining he analysis o eal da a on
ma i ime condi ions wi h he e alua ion o a ailable echnologies. Th ough his p ocess, he
echnical and en i onmen al equi emen s necessa y o a iable implemen a ion a e de ined.
F om his speci ic case, a echno-economic analysis is ca ied ou by calcula ing key
pe o mance indica o s.
The esul s o he s udy allow o he o mula ion o ecommenda ions o u u e applica ions
o wa e ene gy a bo h local and global le els, highligh ing he impo ance o p omo ing
ad ancemen s in hese echnologies o acili a e b oade access o in o ma ion and educe
implemen a ion cos s.
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Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 6
LIST OF CONTENTS
RESUM ............................................................................................................................ 2
RESUMEN ....................................................................................................................... 3
ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... 4
LIST OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ 6
ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS.................................................................................... 8
LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................... 9
LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................ 10
1.INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 12
1.1 MOTIVATION............................................................................................................ 12
1.2 SCOPE OF THE WORK ............................................................................................ 12
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE WORK ..................................................................................... 12
2. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND.................................................................................. 14
2.1.ENERGY IN WAVES ............................................................................................. 14
2.2 WAVE ENERGY CONVERTERS ........................................................................... 17
2.2.1 In oduc ion o WECs ....................................................................................... 17
2.2.1.1 Main Componen s ......................................................................................... 17
2.2.1.2 Wa e ene gy con e e s classi ica ion ........................................................... 19
2.2.2 Backg ound o wa e ene gy ............................................................................. 20
2.2.3. Cu en science and echnology and challenges............................................... 22
2.2.4 In eg a ion o Wa e Ene gy Con e e s in o Powe G ids and Hyb id Renewable
Ene gy Sys ems ....................................................................................................... 23
2.3. TECHNO-ECONOMIC METRICS .......................................................................... 24
2.3.1 Technical KPIs ................................................................................................ 24
2.3.2 Economical KPIs ............................................................................................. 26
3. DESCRIPTION & COMPARISON OF WAVE ENERGY CONVERTERS. ....................... 30
3.1. DESCRIPTION OF DIFFERENT WECs ................................................................. 30
3.2 WEC COMPARISON TABLES ............................................................................... 36
4.DEVELOPMENT OF WEC SYSTEM ............................................................................ 41
4.1. REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................. 41
4.2.WEC SELECTION FOR CASE STUDY .................................................................. 42
4.2.1 WEC compa ison ma ix .................................................................................. 42
4.2.2 Selec ion o he WEC ....................................................................................... 44
4.3. SITE SELECTION FOR CASE STUDY .................................................................. 46
4.3.1 A eas o in e es .............................................................................................. 46
4.3.1 Res ic ions in he selec ed a ea ....................................................................... 48
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4.3.2 Selec ed loca ion o Co Powe Poin Abso be ................................................. 49
5 TECHNO ECONOMICAL ANALYSIS ............................................................................ 51
5.1 MODEL CONSTRUCTION ..................................................................................... 51
5.2 CALCULATIONS ................................................................................................... 52
5.2.1 Sys em design ................................................................................................. 52
5.2.2 Technical KPIs ................................................................................................ 57
5.2.3 Economic KPIs ................................................................................................ 60
5.2.4 G id connec ion ............................................................................................... 62
5.3 DISCUSSION ........................................................................................................ 65
6. PLANNING .............................................................................................................. 67
7. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT .................................................................................... 68
8. ENVIROMENTAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................................ 69
9.SOCIAL AND GENDER EQULITY ASSESSMENT .................................................... 71
9. CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................... 72
10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................................................... 73
11.APPENDIX 1. Legend o Figu e 28 ......................................................................... 74
12. BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................... 77
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ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS
The objec i e o his sec ion is o lis all he namings, ac onyms and abb e ia ions used in
he Thesis.
WEC - Wa e Ene gy Con e e
CAPEX - Capi al Expendi u es
OPEX - Ope a ional Expendi u es
LCOE - Le elized Cos o Ene gy
CF - Capaci y Fac o
PBP - Payback Pe iod
PTO - Powe Take-O Sys em
OWSCs - Oscilla ing Wa e Su ge Con e e s
OWCs - Oscilla ing Wa e Columns
LIMPET - Land Ins alled Ma ine Powe Ene gy T ansmi e
DEGs - Dielec ic Elas ome Gene a o s
ρ - Wa e densi y
g - G a i a ional accele a ion (9.81 m/s²)
Tp - Peak wa e pe iod
Hs - Signi ican wa e heigh
Pa iable - A ailable powe
Wcap u e - E ec i e cap u e wid h
λ - Wa eleng h
CWR - Cap u e Wid h Ra io
NAEP - No malized Annual Ene gy P oduc ion
η - E iciency
n - Expec ed li espan
A - Annui y Fac o
- Discoun a e
Pn - Ra ed Powe
p(kW/h) - P ice o ene gy pe kWh
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figu e 1 Wa e ene gy po en ial in spain .......................................................................... 14
Figu e 2 Wa e o ma ion p ocess .................................................................................... 15
Figu e 3 Wa e componen s . ........................................................................................... 17
Figu e 4 Schema ic diag am o wa e ene gy con e e . ................................................... 18
Figu e 5 Wa e de ices acco ding o hei loca ion . .......................................................... 19
Figu e 6 Sal e 's Duck Wa e Ene gy Con e e . .............................................................. 21
Figu e 7 Pelamis Wa e Ene gy Con e e . ...................................................................... 21
Figu e 8 Mu iku Wa e Powe Plan in Spain . .................................................................. 23
Figu e 9 Wind-wa e hyb id sys em . ................................................................................ 24
Figu e 10 Oscilla ing Wa e Su ge Con e e .................................................................... 30
Figu e 11 Wa eRolle OWSC .......................................................................................... 30
Figu e 12 Co Powe WEC . ............................................................................................ 31
Figu e 13 Poin Abso be . ............................................................................................... 31
Figu e 14 A enua o . ..................................................................................................... 32
Figu e 15 Pelamis . ........................................................................................................ 32
Figu e 16 Oscilla ing Wa e Columns . ............................................................................ 32
Figu e 17 LIMPET . ........................................................................................................ 33
Figu e 18 Onsho e o e opping de ice . .......................................................................... 33
Figu e 19 Wa e D agon ................................................................................................. 33
Figu e 20 A chimedes Wa e Swing . ............................................................................... 34
Figu e 21 Subme ged p essu e di e en ial . .................................................................... 34
Figu e 22 Penguin WEC . ............................................................................................... 35
Figu e 23 Ro a ing Mass WEC . ...................................................................................... 35
Figu e 24 Anaconda Bluge Wa e WEC . ......................................................................... 35
Figu e 25 Examples o WECs wi h CD-DEGs as he PTO sys em . .................................. 36
Figu e 26 Co Powe WEC .............................................................................................. 44
Figu e 27 Co Powe powe ma ix ................................................................................... 45
Figu e 28 No hen Eu ope ocean es ic ion map ............................................................. 49
Figu e 29 Galicia's a ailable SIMAR buoys ..................................................................... 49
Figu e 30 SIMAR 3010017 ba hyme y map .................................................................... 50
Figu e 31 SIMAR 3010017 es ic ions map .................................................................... 50
Figu e 32 echno economical analysis wo k low ............................................................... 52
Figu e 33 Co Powe G id connec ion ............................................................................... 62
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Ba hyme y and dis ance om sho e: As wa es app oach he coas , hey in e ac wi h he
seabed, which can a ec hei ene gy con en [4]:
- Deep wa e ( ypically conside ed as dep h > hal wa eleng h): Wa es main ain mos o hei
ene gy as hey p opaga e.
- In e media e wa e : Wa es s a o " eel" he bo om, which can lead o changes in wa e
heigh and di ec ion h ough p ocesses like shoaling and e ac ion.
- Shallow wa e (dep h < 1/20 wa eleng h): Wa e ene gy dissipa ion inc eases due o bo om
ic ion and b eaking.
Coas line shape: Bays and headlands can ocus o dispe se wa e ene gy, c ea ing localized
a eas o high o low wa e powe . The i egula coas line o Galicia, wi h i s nume ous ias
(coas al inle s), can concen a e wa e ene gy in ce ain a eas.
Seasonal a ia ions: Wa e ene gy po en ial o en a ies seasonally, wi h highe ene gy
le els ypically occu ing du ing win e mon hs in empe a e la i udes.
In Spain, hese ac o s combine o shape a a ied wa e ene gy landscape. The A lan ic coas ,
especially in Galicia and he Can ab ian egion, has he mos wa e ene gy po en ial hanks o
long e ches ac oss he No h A lan ic and s eady wes e ly winds. On he o he hand, he
Medi e anean coas has lowe po en ial due o i s sho e e ch and mo e shel e ed condi ions.
The Cana y Islands, e en hough loca ed u he sou h, bene i om consis en ade winds
and a as A lan ic e ch, making hem ano he key a ea o explo ing wa e ene gy
oppo uni ies.
3. Componen s o a Wa e and powe calcula ion
Unde s anding he di e en pa s o a wa e is c ucial o wa e ene gy con e sion. The main
componen s o a wa e include Figu e 3:
a) C es : The highes poin o he wa e
b) T ough: The lowes poin o he wa e
c) Wa e heigh : The e ical dis ance be ween he c es and ough
d) Wa eleng h: The ho izon al dis ance be ween wo consecu i e c es s o oughs
e) Pe iod: The ime i akes o wo consecu i e c es s o pass a ixed poin
) Ampli ude: Hal he wa e heigh

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Figu e 3 Wa e componen s (image om [5])
The heo e ical powe densi y o a wa e is a measu e ha desc ibes he amoun o ene gy
con ained in he wa e pe uni o coas al leng h, and i is calcula ed using he ollowing
equa ion [3]:
𝑃(𝑘𝑊/𝑚)= ρg²
64π ∗Hs²Tp (Eq. 1)
In his o mula, ρ is he wa e densi y (app oxima ely 1,025 kg/m³ o seawa e ), g is he
g a i a ional accele a ion (9.81 m/s²), Hs is he signi ican wa e heigh (an a e age o he
highes wa es om one- hi d o he o al obse ed), and Tp is he peak wa e pe iod ( he ime
i akes o a wa e o pass a gi en poin ). The heo e ical powe densi y is essen ial o
es ima ing he ene gy po en ial o wa es in a speci ic egion, as he ene gy o a wa e is di ec ly
ela ed o i s heigh and pe iod.
The powe densi y, ini ially calcula ed in e ms o ene gy pe me e o wa e, can hen be
adap ed o he speci ic wa e ene gy con e e being used. By applying he local wa e
condi ions, he powe densi y can help es ima e he amoun o ene gy ha a WEC de ice
could abso b in a speci ic loca ion.
2.2 WAVE ENERGY CONVERTERS
2.2.1 In oduc ion o WECs
Wa e Ene gy Con e e s a e de ices designed o cap u e he ene gy o ocean wa es and
con e i in o elec ici y. The di e si y o wa e clima es ac oss he globe has led o a ious
designs, each ailo ed o speci ic en i onmen al condi ions. These de ices ha e he po en ial
o play a signi ican ole in he ansi ion o enewable ene gy sou ces. This sec ion in oduces
he p ima y componen s, some classi ica ions, and ope a ional p inciples o WECs.
2.2.1.1 Main Componen s
Mos wa e ene gy con e e s ely on a se o i e c i ical componen s ha wo k oge he in
o de o ob ain ene gy om wa es e ec i ely.
P ima y In e ace (Ene gy Cap u e Mechanism)
This is he componen ha di ec ly in e ac s wi h he wa es, cap u ing ene gy om hei mo ion
o p essu e. Common designs include loa ing buoys, laps, o subme ged chambe s. The
choice o in e ace depends on he wa e en i onmen and he WEC’s ope a ing p inciple, such
as oscilla o y mo ion o p essu e di e en ial. The ma e ials and s uc u e o his in e ace a e
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 18
designed o wi hs and ha sh ma ine condi ions while maximizing ene gy cap u e e iciency. In
he Figu e 4 i is ep esen ed by he buoy.
Powe Take-O Sys em (PTO)
The PTO sys em con e s he mechanical ene gy om he p ima y in e ace in o elec ici y.
PTO echnologies a y, wi h some employing hyd aulic sys ems o d i e gene a o s, o he s
using ai u bines, o ad anced di ec -d i e sys ems ha elimina e in e media y s eps. The
PTO's e iciency and eliabili y signi ican ly in luence he o e all pe o mance o he WEC. In
he Figu e 4 i is ep esen ed by he hyd aulic PTO sys em.
Con ol Sys em
The con ol sys em ensu es he WEC adap s o a ying wa e condi ions. By op imizing he
in e ac ion be ween he de ice and he wa es, he con ol sys em maximizes ene gy ou pu
and ensu es sa e ope a ion du ing ex eme condi ions. Ad anced con ol s a egies may
include machine lea ning algo i hms o p edic and adjus o changing wa e clima es in eal-
ime. Fo he example in he Figu e 4 he con ol sys em could be onsho e in a con ol uni
(p ocesso s), inside he buoy (senso s, p ocesso s) o in he PTO sys em (ac ua o s).
Moo ing Sys em
Moo ing sys ems ancho he WEC o he seabed, balancing he need o s abili y wi h he
lexibili y equi ed o mo e wi h he wa es. Di e en con igu a ions, such as ca ena y
moo ings, ension-leg sys ems, o hyb id designs, a e used depending on he wa e dep h and
wa e en i onmen . P ope ly designed moo ing sys ems a e c ucial o he WEC's longe i y
and e icien ope a ion. Fo he example in he Figu e 4 he moo ing sys em a e o ca ena y
chains o ension legs.
Ene gy S o age and G id In eg a ion
To add ess he in e mi en na u e o wa e ene gy, many WECs inco po a e ene gy s o age
sys ems, such as ba e ies o lywheels. These sys ems smoo h powe deli e y o he elec ical
g id. Addi ionally, powe condi ioning sys ems ensu e ha he gene a ed elec ici y mee s g id
equi emen s, enhancing he echnology's eliabili y and usabili y.
Figu e 4 Schema ic diag am o wa e ene gy con e e (image
om [6] )
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2.2.1.2 Wa e ene gy con e e s classi ica ion
The deploymen o wa e ene gy con e e s is one o he main cha ac e is ics ha makes he
de ices di e om one ano he . Fi s ly he e a e 5 op ions o deploymen loca ion ep esen ed
in he Figu e 5.
Onsho e,Based
Onsho e WECs a e ins alled a dep hs o 0–10 me e s, ypically in eg a ed in o coas al
s uc u es such as b eakwa e s o seawalls. These sys ems a e ixed o he seabed,
simpli ying ins alla ion and main enance. Onsho e de ices bene i om p oximi y o he g id,
educing powe ansmission cos s. Howe e , hey a e limi ed by he lowe wa e ene gy
a ailable nea he sho e.
Nea sho e,Based
Nea sho e ixed WECs ope a e in 10–25 me e s o wa e dep h, a aching o he ocean loo .
They cap u e signi ican wa e ene gy while bene i ing om a mo e s able wa e en i onmen
compa ed o o sho e loca ions. Thei close p oximi y o he sho e ensu es easie
main enance and lowe ansmission cos s han o sho e de ices.
Nea sho e,Floa ing
Floa ing WECs in nea sho e en i onmen s a e deployed a dep hs o 25–50 me e s and
ancho ed o he seabed. These de ices can adap o mo e p edic able wa e di ec ions nea
he sho e, enhancing ene gy cap u e e iciency. Howe e , hey equi e obus moo ing
sys ems o ensu e s abili y and eliabili y in a ying condi ions.
O sho e,Subme ged
Subme ged WECs a e loca ed in deepe wa e s, ypically beyond 50 me e s, and ope a e ully
unde wa e . They ha ness he powe ul wa es o o sho e en i onmen s while minimizing
isual impac and exposu e o ha sh su ace wea he . Howe e , hey ace challenges ela ed
o high ins alla ion and main enance cos s and he need o long-dis ance ene gy ansmission.
O sho e,Floa ing
Floa ing WECs deployed o sho e ope a e in deep wa e s beyond 50 me e s. These de ices
a e designed o cap u e he high-ene gy po en ial o la ge o sho e wa es. Despi e hei
signi ican ene gy po en ial, hey ace subs an ial challenges in su i abili y du ing ha sh
ocean condi ions, as well as high ins alla ion and main enance cos s.
Figu e 5 Wa e de ices acco ding o hei loca ion (image om[1])
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Two o he impo an cha ac e is ics ha make WECs di e om one ano he a e he
o ien a ion o wa es and hei size ela i e o wa eleng h.
WEC pe pendicula o wa es
De ices posi ioned di ec ly acing incoming wa es can exploi he ho izon al mo ion o wa es
e ec i ely. This o ien a ion is sui able o sys ems ha ely on oscilla o y mo ion, whe e he
wa e’s kine ic ene gy is maximized.
WEC pa allel o wa es
De ices aligned wi h he wa e di ec ion, such as long a enua o s, abso b ene gy along he
wa e on . This o ien a ion can inc ease ene gy cap u e e iciency, especially in consis en
wa e clima es.
Omnidi ec ional WEC
Omnidi ec ional sys ems a e capable o cap u ing ene gy om wa es app oaching om any
di ec ion. While o e ing e sa ili y, hese de ices o en ade o some e iciency compa ed o
designs op imized o speci ic wa e o ien a ions.
WEC small compa ed o wa eleng h
De ices wi h dimensions much smalle han he a ge ed wa eleng h, such as poin abso be s,
can e icien ly cap u e localized wa e ene gy ega dless o he wa e’s di ec ion.
WEC compa able o wa eleng h
Medium-sized de ices designed o ma ch he wa eleng h can align wi h he wa e’s mo ion,
op imizing ene gy abso p ion.
WEC la ge han wa eleng h
La ge-scale de ices, such as o e opping s uc u es, span a signi ican po ion o he wa e
on , cap u ing ene gy om he en i e leng h o he wa e. These sys ems a e well-sui ed o
loca ions wi h consis en , high-ene gy wa es.
This hesis examines speci ic ypes o Wa e Ene gy Con e e s , including Oscilla ing Wa e
Su ge Con e e s, Poin Abso be s, A enua o s, Oscilla ing Wa e Columns, O e opping
De ices, Subme ged P essu e Di e en ial Sys ems, Ro a ing Mass Sys ems, Bulge Wa e
Con e e s, and Dielec ic Elas ome Gene a o s.
2.2.2 Backg ound o wa e ene gy
The concep o ha nessing wa e ene gy o elec ici y p oduc ion o igina ed in 1799 when he
i s wa e ene gy de ice pa en was iled in Pa is [7]. Howe e , signi ican ad ancemen s in
wa e ene gy echnology didn’ occu un il he 1970s, mo i a ed by he global oil c isis o 1973.
This pe iod ma ked an impo an momen in wa e ene gy esea ch and de elopmen , as
esea che s and enginee s a emp ed o u ilize he powe o ocean wa es mo e e ec i ely[8].
In 1974, S ephen Sal e o he Uni e si y o Edinbu gh in oduced he "Sal e 's Duck" wa e
ene gy con e e ep esen ed in he Figu e 6 [9]. This inno a i e de ice demons a ed he
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 21
g ea po en ial o wa e ene gy and encou aged u he esea ch in he ield. The Sal e 's Duck
ep esen ed a signi ican ad ancemen in e iciency compa ed o ea lie concep s, as i s
unique shape allowed i o cap u e ene gy om bo h he up and down mo ion o wa es, as
well as he o wa d mo emen .
Figu e 6 Sal e 's Duck Wa e Ene gy Con e e (image om[10] )
Du ing he 1980s and 1990s, many coun ies s a ed big wa e ene gy p ojec s, which led o
he c ea ion o di e en es de ices. In Japan, scien is s made he Migh y Whale, a loa ing
de ice ha used he up and down mo ion o wa es in a chambe . This 50-me e -long es
de ice showed ha wa e ene gy echnology could be made bigge [11]. In No way, hey
de eloped he Mul i-Resonan Oscilla ing Wa e Column , u ilizing a no el mul i-chambe
design o imp o e e iciency ac oss a b oade ange o wa e equencies.
The s a o he 2000s b ough new in e es in wa e ene gy, along wi h big imp o emen s in
echnology. In 2004, an impo an miles one was eached when he Pelamis Wa e Ene gy
Con e e (Figu e 7) [12], de eloped by a Sco ish
company, became he i s la ge-scale wa e ene gy
de ice o success ully p oduce elec ici y o he powe
g id. The Pelamis, a semi-subme ged a icula ed
s uc u e, ep esen ed a majo s ep o wa d in o sho e
wa e ene gy echnology. I s abili y o ope a e in deep
wa e en i onmen s opened new possibili ies o wa e
ene gy deploymen , demons a ing imp o emen s in
su i abili y, powe ake-o sys ems, and g id
in eg a ion.
These de elopmen s om he la e 18 h cen u y o he ea ly 2000s laid he ounda ion o
mode n wa e ene gy echnology, showcasing ad ancemen s in e iciency, su i abili y, and
scalabili y. Each i e a ion o WEC design b ough new insigh s and imp o emen s, g adually
mo ing he ield owa ds comme cial iabili y.
Figu e 7 Pelamis Wa e Ene gy Con e e
(image om [13] )

Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 22
2.2.3. Cu en science and echnology and challenges
Cu en science and echnology
Recen yea s ha e seen signi ican ad ancemen s in wa e ene gy echnology, d i en by
ongoing esea ch and de elopmen e o s wo ldwide. One a ea o ocus has been imp o ing
he e iciency o wa e ene gy con e e s . Fo ins ance, esea che s a he Uni e si y o
Plymou h ha e de eloped a new ype o WEC ha uses a lexible ubbe memb ane o cap u e
ene gy om wa es. This design has shown po en ial o inc eased e iciency and educed
main enance cos s compa ed o adi ional igid s uc u es.
Cos educ ion has been ano he key a ea o esea ch. The Wa e Ene gy Sco land p og am,
launched in 2014, has been ins umen al in d i ing down he cos s associa ed wi h wa e
ene gy echnology. Th ough a se ies o inno a ions and undings, he p og am has suppo ed
he de elopmen o no el ma e ials, con ol sys ems, and powe ake-o mechanisms ha
p omise o make wa e ene gy mo e economically iable [14].
In eg a ion o wa e ene gy in o elec ical g ids has also seen p og ess. In 2020, EMEC
success ully demons a ed he wo ld's i s ocean ene gy i ual synch onous machine, a
echnology ha allows wa e and idal ene gy con e e s o mimic he beha io o con en ional
powe plan s, acili a ing easie g id in eg a ion.
Ano he inno a i e app oach being es ed is he combina ion o wa e ene gy wi h o he
o sho e enewable echnologies. The EU- unded MUSICA p ojec is de eloping a mul i-use
pla o m ha in eg a es wa e ene gy, wind ene gy, and aquacul u e, showcasing he po en ial
o syne gies be ween di e en ma ine sec o s [15].
Challenges o he ac ual si ua ion
Despi e he p og ess made in wa e ene gy echnology, se e al challenges pe sis . One o he
p ima y p oblems is he high cos o wa e ene gy compa ed o o he enewable sou ces.
Acco ding o he In e na ional Renewable Ene gy Agency [16], he le elized cos o elec ici y
o wa e ene gy in 2019 anged om $0.33 o $0.63 pe kWh, signi ican ly highe han he
LCOE o o sho e wind ($0.08 o $0.16 pe kWh) o sola PV ($0.05 o $0.14 pe kWh).
The ha sh ma ine en i onmen poses ano he signi ican challenge. Wa e ene gy de ices
mus wi hs and ex eme wea he condi ions, co osion, and bio ouling, which can lead o high
main enance cos s and educed ope a ional li e imes.
En i onmen al conce ns also p esen challenges. While wa e ene gy is conside ed
en i onmen ally iendly, he e a e po en ial impac s on ma ine ecosys ems ha need o be
ca e ully s udied and mi iga ed. The EU- unded WESE p ojec is conduc ing comp ehensi e
en i onmen al moni o ing a ound wa e ene gy si es o be e unde s and and add ess hese
po en ial impac s [17].
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 23
Despi e hese challenges, he wa e ene gy sec o also p esen s nume ous oppo uni ies. The
p edic abili y o wa e ene gy compa ed o o he enewable sou ces like wind and sola is a
signi ican ad an age. Wa es can be o ecas se e al days in ad ance, allowing o be e g id
managemen and in eg a ion.
The po en ial o job c ea ion and economic g ow h in coas al communi ies is ano he
oppo uni y. A epo by he In e na ional Ene gy Agency (IEA) [16] sugges s ha he ocean
ene gy sec o , including wa e ene gy, could c ea e up o 680,000 jobs by 2050.
Fu he mo e, wa e ene gy can be key in achie ing ene gy secu i y and deca boniza ion goals,
pa icula ly o island na ions and emo e coas al communi ies. The EU- unded OPERA [65]
p ojec demons a ed how wa e ene gy could p o ide a eliable powe sou ce o o sho e
applica ions.
2.2.4 In eg a ion o Wa e Ene gy Con e e s in o Powe G ids and Hyb id
Renewable Ene gy Sys ems
The in eg a ion o Wa e Ene gy Con e e s in o exis ing powe g ids and hyb id enewable
ene gy sys ems is gaining ac ion as a iable s a egy o enhancing ene gy secu i y and
sus ainabili y. WECs can be e ec i ely combined wi h o he enewable ene gy sou ces, such
as wind and sola , o c ea e mo e p oduc i e hyb id sys ems. Fo ins ance, wa e ene gy ends
o be mo e consis en du ing pe iods when wind and sola ene gy gene a ion may be low,
p o iding a eliable sou ce o elec ici y ha can s abilize he o e all ene gy supply.
Hyb id sys ems ha inco po a e WECs can imp o e g id esilience by di e si ying he ene gy
mix. Fo example he Mu iku Wa e Powe Plan in Spain (Figu e 8) [20], whe e oscilla ing
wa e column echnology is in eg a ed in o he local powe g id. This acili y demons a es how
wa e ene gy can con ibu e o mee ing local elec ici y demands while educing eliance on
ossil uels Fu he mo e, s udies ha e shown ha combining wa e ene gy wi h wind powe
can lead o inc eased capaci y ac o s and lowe o e all cos s o ene gy p oduc ion, making
such sys ems economically a ac i e [21].
Figu e 8 Mu iku Wa e Powe Plan in Spain (image om [20])
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 24
Howe e , in eg a ing WECs in o powe g ids also p esen s echnical challenges. Va iabili y in
wa e ene gy ou pu can lead o luc ua ions in ol age and equency, which may a ec g id
s abili y. To esol e hese issues, ad anced con ol sys ems and ene gy s o age solu ions a e
being de eloped. Fo example, ba e y s o age can help smoo h ou he powe ou pu om
WECs be o e i is ed in o he g id. Mo eo e , he de elopmen o sma g id echnologies
allows o be e managemen o a iable enewable esou ces, acili a ing he seamless
in eg a ion o wa e ene gy alongside o he enewable sou ces.
As esea ch p og esses, he po en ial o WECs o play a signi ican ole in hyb id enewable
ene gy sys ems (Figu e 9) becomes inc easingly appa en . Ini ia i es like he Eu opean
Ma ine Ene gy Cen e (EMEC) a e ac i ely explo ing s a egies o in eg a ing ma ine ene gy
de ices in o exis ing elec ical in as uc u e. These e o s highligh he impo ance o
collabo a ion be ween di e en sec o s o he enewable ene gy indus y o c ea e obus and
esilien ene gy sys ems capable o mee ing u u e demands [22].
Figu e 9 Wind-wa e hyb id sys em (image om [23] )
2.3. TECHNO-ECONOMIC METRICS
This sec ion in oduces he echno-economic me ics o wa e ene gy con e e s, ca ego ized
in o echnical Key Pe o mance Indica o s (KPIs) and economic KPIs. Re e ence alues o
hese me ics a e p o ided, de i ed om ho ough esea ch and analysis om
[1][24][25][26][27][28][29].
2.3.1 Technical KPIs
1.A ailable powe (𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒂𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆)
The a ailable powe (eq. 2) is a c i ical me ic o unde s anding he maximum ene gy a Wa e
Ene gy Con e e can cap u e unde eal condi ions a a speci ic si e. I combines local wa e
powe densi y, wa eleng h, and he de ice’s e iciency o calcula e he e ec i e ene gy
cap u e. The p ocess in ol es h ee main s eps: de e mining he wa eleng h, calcula ing he
e ec i e cap u e wid h, and compu ing he heo e ical powe cap u ed.
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒=𝑃𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠[𝑘𝑊
𝑚]∗𝑊𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 (Eq. 2)
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 25
The wa eleng h (λ) is a key pa ame e in wa e ene gy analysis. I is de e mined by he peak
wa e pe iod (Tp), which a ies based on eal condi ions a he selec ed loca ion. The o mula
o he wa eleng h depends on wa e dep h (eq. 3,4,5).
Fo Deep Wa e (h> λ/2):
λ= 𝑔∗𝑇𝑝2
2∗𝜋 (Eq. 3)
Fo in e media e dep h (λ/20<h<λ/2):
λ= 𝑔∗𝑇𝑝2
2∗𝜋 anh(2∗𝜋∗ℎ
λ0 ) ;λ0=𝑔∗𝑇𝑝2
2∗𝜋 (Eq. 4)
Fo shallow wa e (h> λ/20):
λ= 𝑇𝑝∗√𝑔∗ℎ (Eq. 5)
Whe e g= 9.81 m/s^2 is he g a i a ional accele a ion and Tp is he wa e pe iod ypically
be ween 6 and 12 seconds depending on he si e.
The e ec i e cap u e wid h (Wcap u e) e lec s how much ene gy he WEC can e ec i ely
ex ac om he wa e, exp essed as (Eq. 6). I is de e mined by he Cap u e Wid h Ra io
(CWR), which ela es he cap u e wid h o he wa eleng h, each WEC has hei e e ence
alues: 𝑊𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒=𝐶𝑊𝑅∗λ (Eq. 6)
Finally wi h he wa e powe densi y and he e ec i e cap u e wid h he heo e ical Powe
Cap u ed is calcula ed. This a ailable powe is c i ical o u he calcula ions, such as
e iciency and o he Key Pe o mance Indica o s, which a e essen ial o assessing he
pe o mance o he wa e ene gy con e e .
2. No malized Annual Ene gy P oduc ion (NAEP)
The No malized Annual Ene gy P oduc ion is a key me ic used o e alua e he ene gy
pe o mance o wa e ene gy con e e s and o he enewable ene gy sys ems. I ep esen s
he annual ene gy ou pu o a sys em no malized by i s ins alled capaci y (Eq. 7) . This allows
o a s anda dized compa ison o di e en sys ems, ega dless o hei size o a ed powe .
𝑁𝐴𝐸𝑃=𝐴𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡∗𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠
𝑁𝑜𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦 (Eq. 7)
3. Capaci y Fac o (CF)
The Capaci y Fac o measu es he pe o mance o a Wa e Ene gy Con e e (WEC) by
compa ing i s ac ual ene gy ou pu o i s maximum po en ial ou pu o e a pe iod (Eq. 8). I is
exp essed as:
𝐶𝐹=𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑎𝑙 𝐸𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑦 𝑂𝑢𝑡𝑝𝑢𝑡
𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐶𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑡𝑦∗𝑇𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑑 (Eq. 8)
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 32
3.A enua o s
A enua o s a e elonga ed s uc u es designed o
cap u e wa e ene gy by lexing along he leng h o
he wa e. These de ices a e ypically la ge han
he wa eleng h and a e o ien ed pa allel o he
di ec ion o wa e p opaga ion. An a enua o
consis s o a se ies o connec ed cylind ical sec ions ha mo e ela i e o each o he as he
wa e passes along he de ice. The join s be ween he segmen s a e equipped wi h hyd aulic
pumps ha gene a e elec ici y om he lexing mo ion.
A enua o s a e usually deployed o sho e, whe e wa e condi ions a e mo e consis en and
powe ul. As loa ing de ices, hey emain on he wa e su ace and can cap u e ene gy o e
a long s e ch o he wa e on . The Pelamis wa e ene gy con e e is a well-known example
o an a enua o .
Despi e hei high ene gy cap u e po en ial, a enua o s ha e a mo e signi ican isual impac
compa ed o o he WEC ypes and equi e complex mechanical sys ems o main ain and
ope a e. Thei p ima y ad an age is hei abili y o cap u e ene gy along he en i e leng h o
he de ice, making hem pa icula ly sui able o o sho e wa e a ms.
4.Oscilla ing Wa e Columns (OWCs)
Oscilla ing Wa e Columns (OWCs) a e pa ially
subme ged, hollow s uc u es ha use he ise and
all o wa es o gene a e elec ici y. The de ice
consis s o a chambe open o he sea below he
wa e su ace and connec ed o an ai u bine
abo e. As wa es ise, hey push ai inside he
chambe h ough he u bine, gene a ing powe .
When he wa e ecedes, ai is d awn back in o he
chambe , con inuing he cycle. OWCs ypically use
bidi ec ional u bines, capable o o a ing in he
same di ec ion ega dless o he ai low di ec ion,
ensu ing con inuous powe gene a ion.
Figu e 14 A enua o (image om [35])
Figu e 15 Pelamis (image om [35])
Figu e 16 Oscilla ing Wa e Columns (image om
[36])

Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 33
OWCs can be buil in o coas al s uc u es (sho eline
OWCs) o deployed as loa ing de ices o sho e.
Sho eline OWCs, like he LIMPET (Land Ins alled
Ma ine Powe Ene gy T ansmi e ), a e in eg a ed in o
cli s o b eakwa e s o educe cons uc ion cos s and
imp o e eliabili y. Howe e , hese de ices ace
challenges in op imizing ai low e iciency o maximize
powe ou pu . Thei p ima y ad an age lies in hei abili y
o be in eg a ed in o exis ing in as uc u e, educing
hei isual impac and cons uc ion oo p in .
5.O e opping De ices
O e opping de ices cap u e wa e ene gy by allowing wa e om wa es o spill o e in o a
ese oi loca ed abo e sea le el. The accumula ed wa e is hen eleased back in o he ocean
h ough hyd aulic u bines, gene a ing elec ici y in a manne simila o con en ional
hyd oelec ic plan s. These de ices can be deployed ei he onsho e o o sho e.
Onsho e o e opping de ices, like he Tapchan (Tape ed Channel), use a g adually na owing
channel o ocus wa e ene gy in o he ese oi . O sho e de ices, such as he Wa e D agon,
u ilize la ge e lec i e a ms o di ec wa es in o he cen al ese oi . While o e opping
de ices can smoo h ou luc ua ions in powe ou pu by using he ese oi o s o e po en ial
ene gy, hey a e sensi i e o idal a ia ions and equi e consis en wa e condi ions o op imal
pe o mance.
The main challenge o o e opping de ices is main aining e iciency in a iable sea s a es.
Howe e , hei abili y o p o ide ela i ely s eady powe ou pu and hei s aigh o wa d
hyd oelec ic con e sion p ocess make hem p omising candida es o la ge-scale wa e
ene gy p ojec s.
Figu e 17 LIMPET (image om [37])
Figu e 19 Onsho e o e opping de ice (image om
[38])
Figu e 18 Wa e D agon (image om [39])
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 34
6.Subme ged P essu e Di e en ial
Subme ged p essu e di e en ial de ices a e ypically ins alled nea sho e and a ached o he
seabed. They ope a e by u ilizing he p essu e di e ence c ea ed by wa es passing o e
hem. When a wa e c es passes o e he de ice, he inc eased wa e p essu e comp esses
a lexible memb ane o in e nal mechanism. As he wa e ough passes, he p essu e
dec eases, allowing he de ice o expand. This al e na ing comp ession and expansion d i es
a luid h ough a powe ake-o sys em, usually hyd aulic o pneuma ic, which gene a es
elec ici y.
The A chimedes Wa e Swing is a well-known example o his echnology. I consis s o a la ge
cylind ical s uc u e ha mo es e ically wi h he wa e-induced p essu e changes. These
de ices ha e a low isual impac since hey a e ins alled unde wa e and a e less a ec ed by
su ace condi ions. Howe e , hey a e limi ed by wa e dep h and equi e p ecise calib a ion
o maximize e iciency in a ying sea s a es.
Figu e 21 Subme ged p essu e di e en ial (image om [40])
7.Ro a ing Mass
Ro a ing mass de ices gene a e elec ici y by using he mo ion o wa es o mo e an in e nal
o a ing mass, such as an eccen ic weigh o gy oscope. These de ices loa on he wa e
su ace and cap u e ene gy om he mo ion induced by wa es. The in e nal o a ing mass
c ea es a gy oscopic e ec ha d i es a gene a o , con e ing mechanical ene gy in o
elec ical powe .
The Penguin WEC by Wello Oy is a no able example o a o a ing mass de ice. I uses an
asymme ic mass ha o a es wi hin he loa ing s uc u e as he de ice esponds o wa e
mo ion. This echnology allows he de ice o cap u e ene gy om wa es coming om mul iple
di ec ions, making i sui able o o sho e deploymen .
Figu e 20 A chimedes Wa e Swing (image om [40])
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 35
While o a ing mass de ices o e he ad an age o omnidi ec ional ene gy cap u e, hey ace
challenges ela ed o complex in e nal mechanics and he du abili y o mo ing pa s in ha sh
ma ine en i onmen s.
8. Bulge Wa e
Bulge wa e de ices consis o a long, lexible ubbe ube illed wi h wa e , ancho ed o he
seabed and o ien ed in he di ec ion o incoming wa es. As wa es a el along he ube, hey
c ea e a bulge inside he ube ha g ows in size as i mo es owa d he end o he de ice. This
bulge pushes wa e h ough a u bine, gene a ing elec ici y
The Anaconda de ice, de eloped by Checkma e Seaene gy, is a p ominen example o a
bulge wa e de ice. I is designed o be simple, wi h ew mo ing pa s, making i a obus
solu ion o wa e ene gy cap u e. Howe e , achie ing high e iciency equi es la ge-scale
de ices, which can pose deploymen and main enance challenges.
9.Dielec ic Elas ome Gene a o s (DEGs)
Dielec ic Elas ome Gene a o s (DEGs) a e an eme ging wa e ene gy echnology ha uses
lexible ma e ials o di ec ly con e mechanical ene gy om wa es in o elec ical ene gy.
DEGs consis o a so capaci o made om a dielec ic elas ome ma e ial placed be ween
wo complian elec odes. As wa es de o m he DEG, i s capaci ance changes, which can be
used o gene a e elec ici y.
Figu e 23 Ro a ing Mass WEC (image om [41])
Figu e 22 Penguin WEC (image om [42])
Figu e 24 Anaconda Bluge Wa e WEC (image om [43] )
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 36
DEGs o e a p omising solu ion due o hei simplici y, low cos , and po en ial o high powe
densi y. They can be in eg a ed in o a ious WEC designs, including poin abso be s,
oscilla ing wa e columns, and bulge wa e de ices. The PolyWEC is an example o a DEG
de ice cu en ly in de elopmen . Howe e , DEGs emain in he ea ly s ages o esea ch, and
challenges include imp o ing hei du abili y and scalabili y.
Figu e 25 Examples o WECs wi h CD-DEGs as he PTO sys em (image om [44])
3.2 WEC COMPARISON TABLES
Following he de ailed desc ip ions o each wa e ene gy con e e , his sec ion p esen s key
in o ma ion h ough a se ies o o ganized summa y ables. These ables aim o make i easie
o compa e he selec ed WEC de ices, co e ing aspec s such as echnical de ails, bene i s
and challenges, and economic da a. By p o iding a clea o e iew, hey help o be e
unde s and he di e ences be ween he de ices and hei sui abili y o di e en ma ine
en i onmen s.
The in o ma ion in hese ables combines gene al de ails abou each WEC ca ego y wi h
speci ic examples, especially o nume ical da a. This me hod add esses he lack o consis en
in o ma ion a ailable abou hese de ices. No ably, CAPEX and OPEX da a ha e been aken
om he gene al ca ego y o each de ice by e iewing mul iple esea ch pape s and
comme cial examples. Despi e e o s o ill in all he da a, some gaps emain due o he ea ly
s age o de elopmen o some echnologies. Addi ionally, he da a shown e e s o de ices a
a comme cial scale; i p o o ype de ices we e used, he CAPEX and OPEX alues would likely
be highe .
One key poin in his analysis is he decision no o include e iciency da a. Al hough e iciency
is an impo an measu e o mos ene gy echnologies, i is pa icula ly ha d o assess o
WECs due o he changing na u e o ma ine en i onmen s. Wa e condi ions, which g ea ly
a ec WEC pe o mance, a y a lo depending on loca ion and ime, making e iciency da a
ha d o compa e ai ly. Ins ead, capaci y ac o has been used as a mo e use ul pe o mance
measu e. This alue shows he ac ual ene gy ou pu o a de ice compa ed o i s maximum
possible ou pu , gi ing impo an insigh in o how well a WEC migh wo k economically.
Capaci y ac o is a common measu e in enewable ene gy because i accoun s o he ac
ha hese echnologies do no p oduce ene gy all he ime.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 37
The i s able summa izes he quali a i e cha ac e is ics o a ious WEC echnologies,
p o iding insigh s in o hei deploymen loca ions, ene gy cap u e me hods and o he design
ea u es. These pa ame e s o e a ounda ional unde s anding o how each de ice in e ac s
wi h i s en i onmen and i s sui abili y o speci ic ma ine condi ions.
Table 1 Quali a i e Technical and Physical In o ma ion
F om his able, i ’s e iden ha de ices such as Oscilla ing Wa e Su ge Con e e s and
Oscilla ing Wa e Columns a e be e sui ed o nea sho e o onsho e deploymen , whe e
wa e dynamics a e less ha sh bu equi e speci ic o ien a ions o unc ion e icien ly. In
con as , loa ing de ices like Poin Abso be s, A enua o s, and Ro a ing Mass a e designed
o o sho e en i onmen s, o e ing g ea e lexibili y in deploymen . Addi ionally, he ene gy
cap u e me hods a y widely, om ho izon al mo ion in OWSC o he unique gy oscopic e ec
in Ro a ing Mass sys ems, showcasing he echnological di e si y in wa e ene gy con e sion.
Example
de ice
Size ela i e
o
wa eleng h
O ien a ion o
wa es
Typical
loca ion
Ene gy
cap u e
me hod
Powe
ake-o
sys em
Oscilla ing
Wa e Su ge
Con e e s
Wa eRolle
Compa able
Pe pendicula
Nea sho e,
based
Ho izon al
mo ion
Hyd aulic
Poin
Abso be s
Co Powe
Ocean
Smalle
Omnidi ec ional
Nea sho e o
o sho e, loa ing
Ve ical
mo ion
Hyd aulic o
di ec d i e
A enua o s
Pelamis
La ge
Pa allel
O sho e,
loa ing
Flexing
mo ion
Hyd aulic
Oscilla ing
Wa e
Columns
LIMPET
Va ies
Va ies
Onsho e, based
Ai
comp ession
Ai u bine
O e opping
De ices
Wa e D agon
La ge
Va ies
Nea sho e o
o sho e, loa ing
Wa e
collec ion
Hyd o
u bine
Subme ged
P essu e
Di e en ial
A chimedes
Wa e Swing
Smalle
Pe pendicula
Nea sho e,
based
P essu e
di e ence
Hyd aulic o
pneuma ic
Ro a ing
Mass
Wello Penguin
Smalle
Omnidi ec ional
O sho e,
loa ing
Gy oscopic
e ec
Mechanical
o elec ical
Bulge Wa e
Anaconda
Compa able
Pa allel
Nea sho e o
o sho e, loa ing
Bulge
p opaga ion
Hyd aulic
u bine
Dielec ic
Elas ome
Gene a o s
PolyWEC
Va iable
Flexible
Va iable
De o ma ion
o elas ome
Elec os a ic

Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 38
The second able p o ides nume ical de ails o he WEC de ices, such as powe ou pu ,
capaci y ac o , li espan, deploymen dep h, and dis ance o sho e. These pa ame e s allow
o a compa ison o he echnical capabili ies and adap abili y o each echnology.
Table 2 Quan i a i e echnical and physical in o ma ion Sou ces: [34][32][35][37][39][45][40][42][43]
De ices like O e opping De ices and Ro a ing Mass s and ou wi h he highes powe
ou pu s, making hem a ac i e o high-ene gy en i onmen s. Howe e , Subme ged P essu e
Di e en ial de ices excel in capaci y ac o , indica ing hei e iciency in con e ing wa e
ene gy. Deploymen dep hs a y signi ican ly, wi h Oscilla ing Wa e Columns p ima ily sui ed
o shallow wa e s, while echnologies like A enua o s and Ro a ing Mass a e designed o
deepe o sho e ins alla ions. Addi ionally, li espans ange om 10-15 yea s o mechanically
complex sys ems o 25-30 yea s o simple , mo e obus designs like Oscilla ing Wa e
Columns.
Powe Ou pu
pe de ice(kW)
Capaci y Fac o (%)
Expec ed Li espan
(yea s)
Deploymen
dep h (m)
Dis ance o
sho e (km)
Oscilla ing
Wa e Su ge
Con e e s
675kW
25-50%
20-25 yea s
10-25 m
0.3-2 km
Poin
Abso be s
300kW
40-60%
15-20 yea s
>40m
>5km
A enua o s
750kW
25-45%
20-25 yea s
50-70 m
5-10km
Oscilla ing
Wa e
Columns
500kW
25-35%
25-30 yea s
0-10 m
0km
O e opping
De ices
5500 kW
30-40%
20-30 yea s
20-50m
>5km
Subme ged
P essu e
Di e en ial
258 kW
50-68%
25-30 yea s
10-30m
1-5km
Ro a ing Mass
1000kW
-
10-15 yea s
50-70m
5-10km
Bulge Wa e
875kW
25-35%
15-20 yea s
10-50m
2-15km
Dielec ic
Elas ome
Gene a o s
360kW
-
-
10-30m
0-5km
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 39
The ollowing able summa izes he main s eng hs and limi a ions o each WEC ype, ocusing
on ac o s such as isual impac , key challenges, and no able ad an ages.
Table 3 Key bene i s and challenges
Visual impac plays a signi ican ole, wi h echnologies like Subme ged P essu e Di e en ial
and Oscilla ing Wa e Su ge Con e e s o e ing minimal dis up ion o coas al aes he ics.
Meanwhile, de ices like A enua o s and Bulge Wa e exhibi highe isual impac s, which
migh limi hei accep abili y in ce ain egions. Each echnology also aces unique challenges:
Oscilla ing Wa e Columns mus op imize ai low o e iciency, while Ro a ing Mass sys ems
g apple wi h in e nal mechanical complexi y. Despi e hese challenges, ad an ages like he
e sa ili y o Poin Abso be s and he ene gy-smoo hing po en ial o O e opping De ices
highligh he adap abili y o WEC echnologies o di e en scena ios.
Visual impac
Main challenge
Key
ad an age
Oscilla ing
Wa e Su ge
Con e e s
Low
Si e-speci ic e iciency
E icien in
su ge zones
Poin
Abso be s
Medium
Limi ed indi idual
ou pu
Compac and
e sa ile
A enua o s
High
Complex mechanical
sys em
Cap u es
ene gy along
wa eleng h
Oscilla ing
Wa e
Columns
Medium
Op imizing ai low
e iciency
Can be
in eg a ed in o
s uc u es
O e opping
De ices
High
Tidal a ia ion e ec s
Smoo hs
powe ou pu
Subme ged
P essu e
Di e en ial
Low
Limi ed by wa e dep h
Low isual
impac
Ro a ing Mass
High
Complex in e nal
mechanics
Cap u es
ene gy om
mul iple wa e
di ec ions
Bulge Wa e
High
La ge scale equi ed
o e iciency
Simple design
wi h ew
mo ing pa s
Dielec ic
Elas ome
Gene a o s
Medium
S ill in ea ly
de elopmen s ages
Low-cos , high-
powe densi y
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 40
The ou h able ocuses on he economic aspec s o WEC echnologies, pa icula ly CAPEX
(Capi al Expendi u e) and OPEX (Ope a ional Expendi u e). These me ics p o ide a glimpse
in o he inancial equi emen s and ope a ional sus ainabili y o each de ice.
Table 4 Economic in o ma ion. Sou ces: [1][24][25][26][27][28][29] [34][32][35][37][39][45][40][42][43].
The economic able illus a es no able di e ences in cos s be ween echnologies. Poin
Abso be s and Subme ged P essu e Di e en ial de ices a e among he mos cos -e ec i e
op ions, wi h ela i ely low CAPEX and OPEX. In con as , Bulge Wa e and O e opping
De ices show signi ican ly highe capi al cos s due o hei scale and s uc u al equi emen s.
In e es ingly, eme ging echnologies like Dielec ic Elas ome Gene a o s a e expec ed o
CAPEX (€/kW)
OPEX (%)
Jus i ica ion
Oscilla ing Wa e Su ge
Con e e s
3000-6000
2-4%
Mode a e CAPEX o nea sho e
de ices like Wa eRolle ; a e age
OPEX due o easy main enance.
Poin Abso be s
2500-4500
2-5%
CAPEX low due o compac
o sho e de ices; OPEX e lec s
o sho e se icing.
A enua o s
2050 -6100
2-4%
La ge, complex sys ems like
Pelamis equi e highe CAPEX,
he OPEX is a e age
Oscilla ing Wa e
Columns
4000-5000
2-3%
Nea sho e in eg a ion de ices like
LIMPET; mode a e CAPEX and
OPEX e lec s uc u al cos s.
O e opping De ices
3500-6000
3-4%
La ge de ices like Wa e D agon
wi h obus s uc u es; highe
OPEX o o sho e main enance.
Subme ged P essu e
Di e en ial
2500-4000
2-4%
Simple subme ged de ices like
A chimedes Wa e Swing; low
CAPEX and a e age OPEX
Ro a ing Mass
Should be high due o
complexi y in mechanics
Should be high due o
o sho e deploymen and
high complexi y
Complexi y in mechanics (e.g.,
Wello Penguin) inc eases cos s,
especially o o sho e deploymen .
Bulge Wa e
7000-12000
3-5%
Ve y la ge-scale de ices like
Anaconda; high CAPEX and
OPEX e lec hei no el design
and size.
Dielec ic Elas ome
Gene a o s
Should be he lowes
Should be high due o ea ly-
s age echnology
Ea ly-s age echnology like
PolyWEC; low CAPEX o se by
high OPEX o esea ch and
main enance.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 41
ha e low CAPEX bu highe OPEX, e lec ing hei ea ly de elopmen s age and associa ed
esea ch and main enance needs. I ’s impo an o emphasize ha hese igu es e lec
comme cial-scale sys ems; p o o ype de ices would exhibi highe cos s due o smalle
economies o scale.
4.DEVELOPMENT OF WEC SYSTEM
4.1. REQUIREMENTS
To ensu e he app op ia e selec ion o echnologies and loca ions o he ins alla ion o Wa e
Ene gy Con e e s, speci ic echnical, economic, and en i onmen al equi emen s a e
de ined. These equi emen s a e ailo ed o ensu e ha he p ojec mee s he objec i es o
op imizing ene gy cap u e, minimizing en i onmen al impac , and achie ing economic
easibili y. Below is a schema ic ou line o he key equi emen s.
Powe Ou pu Requi emen s
The p ojec ’s a ge capaci y is se a 10 MW, making i a medium-scale ins alla ion sui able
o eal-wo ld deploymen [30]. This capaci y p o ides a balance be ween echnological
easibili y and economic impac . The p ojec will consis o mul iple iden ical WEC uni s
wo king oge he o achie e he desi ed ou pu . Addi ionally, he WECs in his p ojec will no
be connec ed o an exis ing g id. Ins ead, he gene a ed ene gy will be used o au onomous
sys ems o local s o age.
Si e Selec ion Requi emen s
One o he mos c i ical aspec s o he p ojec is selec ing a sui able si e ha maximizes ene gy
cap u e while minimizing en i onmen al and social impac s. The chosen si e mus ha e
a o able wa e esou ce a ailabili y, including signi ican wa e heigh and wa e pe iod, which
should align wi h he WEC’s ope a ional ange. The si e’s ba hyme y and dep h mus ma ch
he chosen WEC’s deploymen equi emen s, whe he he de ices a e loa ing o ixed.
The selec ed si e mus comply wi h en i onmen al and egula o y es ic ions. I is essen ial o
a oid ma ine p o ec ed a eas, such as Na u a 2000 zones, o ensu e he p ojec does no
nega i ely impac sensi i e ecosys ems. Regula o y compliance will also in ol e ob aining he
necessa y pe mi s, including en i onmen al impac assessmen s and ma i ime usage igh s.
Cu en ac i i ies and uses in he selec ed a ea mus be ca e ully conside ed o a oid con lic s.
The si e mus a oid a eas used o ishing, shipping lanes, ec ea ional ac i i ies, and mili a y
ope a ions. Addi ionally, he p ojec mus s ee clea o zones designa ed o coas al
p o ec ion, cul u al he i age si es, na ional de ense, and na iga ion sa e y. A oiding hese
a eas will help mi iga e isks o bo h he WEC ins alla ion and o he use s o he ma ine
en i onmen , ensu ing ha he p ojec does no dis up exis ing ac i i ies o comp omise
sa e y.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 48
Galicia has he highes mean powe (30.26 kW/m), which is signi ican ly highe han he o he
si es. While i s s anda d de ia ion (6.15 kW/m) is mode a e, he maximum powe (37.01 kW/m)
and minimum powe (11.99 kW/m) show ha he si e is capable o bo h high ene gy p oduc ion
and main aining a easonable baseline du ing calme condi ions. This makes i he mos
sui able loca ion o a WEC a 100 m dep h.
F om he h ee ables i can be concluded ha Galicia, As u ias, Can ab ia, País Vasco, and
Cana ias a e he egions wi h he highes wa e ene gy esou ces. As expec ed, he highes
s anda d de ia ion is obse ed in Cana ias, owing o he signi ican di e ences be ween he
windwa d and leewa d coas s o he a chipelago.
4.3.1 Res ic ions in he selec ed a ea
Once he a eas o in e es o applying he Wa e Ene gy Con e e s ha e been selec ed, i is
necessa y o ake in o accoun all he es ic ions imposed o he ins alla ion o he WECs.
This is because he e a e se e al zones designa ed o speci ic ac i i ies and p o ec ed a eas.
In he ollowing map, he no he n egion o Spain is shown, which ep esen s he a ea o
in e es o ins alling he WECs, along wi h all he es ic ions ha limi he selec ion o si es
whe e he WECs can be applied. The egions ha a e shaded mus be a oided. The selec ed
a eas on he map (Figu e 28) include he ollowing ca ego ies. The legend o Figu e 28 can
be ound in Appendix 1.
P o ec ed A eas (Ma ine En i onmen ):
These a e zones whe e ac i i ies may be es ic ed o p ohibi ed o p ese e he ma ine
en i onmen . They include Ramsa We lands, he OSPAR Ne wo k o Ma ine P o ec ed A eas,
Biosphe e Rese es (MaB), Specially P o ec ed A eas o Medi e anean Impo ance (ZEPIM),
P o ec ed Na u al Spaces (ENP), Spain's Ne wo k o Ma ine P o ec ed A eas (RAMPE), and
he Na u a 2000 Ne wo k.
P o ec ed A eas (Ma ine Ac i i ies and Uses):
These zones ha e es ic ions on a ious ac i i ies in he ma ine en i onmen . Limi a ions
include scien i ic ac i i ies, mining ac i i ies, ec ea ional ac i i ies, unde wa e ac i i ies, and
aquacul u e ac i i ies. The e a e also es ic ions on cables and pipelines, hyd oca bon
ex ac ion and CO2 s o age, mili a y maneu e s, and ac i i ies ela ed o lo a and auna.
Addi ionally, limi a ions exis o he ins alla ion o wind u bines, he cons uc ion o
in as uc u e, shell ishing, na iga ion, ishing ac i i ies, discha ges, and ene gy in as uc u e.
P io i y Use Zones:
These a e zones whe e ce ain ac i i ies a e p io i ized due o hei impo ance o he
en i onmen , he i age, and na ional secu i y. They include p io i y a eas o biodi e si y
p o ec ion, he ex ac ion o agg ega es o coas al p o ec ion, he p o ec ion o cul u al
he i age, na ional de ense, and na iga ion sa e y.

Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 49
Figu e 28 No hen Eu ope ocean es ic ion map (image om [49])
4.3.2 Selec ed loca ion o Co Powe Poin Abso be
Once i is known ha he WEC o be implemen ed is he Poin Abso be Co Powe , which
equi es a dep h o mo e han 40 me e s, he speci ic ins alla ion si e is selec ed. The a ea o
in e es is loca ed in Galicia, as he ins alla ion will ake place a a dep h o app oxima ely 50
me e s. Addi ionally, all he p e iously men ioned es ic ions will be espec ed, and a wa e
powe analysis will be conduc ed o he selec ed si e.
The speci ic loca ion wi hin Galicia has been selec ed based on da a collec ed om he SIMAR
3010017 buoy, which p o ides his o ical measu emen s o oceanog aphic condi ions. The
buoy is managed by PORTUS (Pue os del Es ado), which acks and moni o s ma i ime and
coas al condi ions in Spain. The coo dina es o he selec ed poin a e Longi ude: 9.08° W and
La i ude: 42.71° N, which co espond o he posi ion o he buoy ma ked in ed on he map
( igu e 29).
Figu e 29 Galicia's a ailable SIMAR buoys (image om [50])
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 50
As shown in he ollowing ba hyme y map (Figu e 30), he dep h o he selec ed a ea pe ec ly
ma ches he equi ed condi ions o he Co Powe de ice. The map clea ly illus a es ha he
si e lies a an app oxima e dep h o 50-70 me e s, which is wi hin he ideal ange o he Poin
Abso be Co Powe , which ope a es a a dep h o mo e han 40 me e s .
Figu e 30 SIMAR 3010017 ba hyme y map (image om [49])
Addi ionally, as shown on he es ic ions map ( igu e 31), he selec ed a ea does no o e lap
wi h any es ic ed ac i i ies o p o ec ed zones. By using he In oma pla o m we can con i m
ha he si e is ee om con lic s wi h o he uses, such as ma ine ese es o a eas wi h special
egula ions o ishing, na iga ion, o mili a y ac i i ies. This ensu es he Co Powe ins alla ion
can p oceed wi hou iola ing any en i onmen al o legal es ic ions.
Figu e 31 SIMAR 3010017 es ic ions map (image om [49]), legend in Appendix 1
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 51
Wi h da a sou ced om PORTUS (Pue os del Es ado), a his o ical da ase o wa e condi ions
measu ed by he SIMAR 3010017 buoy has been compiled. This da ase encompasses
signi ican wa e heigh and peak pe iod obse a ions spanning he yea s 2015 o 2025.
Using his da ase , a g aph has been gene a ed o plo Hs (agains Tp (peak pe iod). The
g aph below (Table 11) shows he equency o each combina ion o Tp and Hs obse ed o e
he pas decade. This isualiza ion acili a es he analysis o wa e beha io in he selec ed
egion du ing he speci ied pe iod, o e ing aluable insigh s in o he mos common wa e
condi ions and hei pa e ns.
Table 11 F equency o Hs and Tp combina ions .Sou ce [50]:
5 TECHNO ECONOMICAL ANALYSIS
5.1 MODEL CONSTRUCTION
Be o e pe o ming he echno-economic calcula ions, a s uc u ed model is es ablished o
guide he en i e p ocess. The wo k low begins wi h inpu da a, which includes he wa e clima e
o he speci ic loca ion, such as he Tp s. Hs able, and he cha ac e is ics o he WEC, such
as i s powe ma ix. Using his in o ma ion, pe o mance calcula ions a e ca ied ou .
These calcula ions in ol e i s de e mining he heo e ical powe ha he WEC can abso b
om he sea a he gi en loca ion, ollowed by compu ing he exac powe gene a ed by he
WEC. Wi h hese esul s and inpu da a, echnical KPIs such as capaci y ac o and e iciency
can be e alua ed.
Nex , he pe o mance calcula ions a e combined wi h he economic cha ac e is ics o he
WEC, namely CAPEX and OPEX, o pe o m he economic calcula ions. These calcula ions
include me ics such as he Le elized Cos o Ene gy and Payback Pe iod.
Hs s Tp
( equency)
Peak Pe iod (s)
To al
<=1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11=>
Signi ican heigh (m)
<=0,5
-
-
0,016
0,019
0,039
0,063
0,357
1,014
1,272
1,39
1,616
5,786
1
-
-
0,469
0,763
0,286
0,369
1,189
2,055
4,414
7,822
10,346
27,713
1,5
-
-
-
0,323
0,194
0,287
0,391
0,516
1,524
6,847
15,271
25,353
2
-
-
-
0,022
0,025
0,135
0,383
0,333
0,516
2,01
11,938
15,362
2,5
-
-
-
-
0,008
0,019
0,342
0,274
0,441
0,968
8,017
10,069
3
-
-
-
-
0,005
0,003
0,133
0,194
0,265
0,61
5,211
6,421
3,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
0,021
0,116
0,213
0,54
3,416
4,306
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0,039
0,096
0,298
2,133
2,566
4,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0,002
0,023
0,134
1,01
1,169
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0,002
0,071
0,603
0,676
5,5=>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0,008
0,572
0,58
To al
0
0
0,485
1,127
0,557
0,876
2,816
4,543
8,766
20,698
60,133
100%
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 52
The es ablished wo k low is ep esen ed in he ollowing Figu e 32.
Figu e 32 Techno economical analysis wo k low
To ensu e maximum accu acy in he calcula ions, a ma ix-based app oach is employed,
aking in o accoun all possible combina ions o signi ican wa e heigh s and peak pe iods
alongside hei espec i e equencies.
Ins ead o using a e age alues o Hs and Tp o compu e pa ame e s like powe o e iciency,
he calcula ions a e pe o med o each indi idual combina ion o Hs and Tp. The equency
o each combina ion, as de ailed in he p e iously desc ibed able, is hen inco po a ed in o
he analysis. This app oach p o ides highly p ecise a e age alues, ensu ing a mo e accu a e
ep esen a ion o he wa e condi ions and hei in luence on he s udied pa ame e s.
5.2 CALCULATIONS
5.2.1 Sys em design
This sec ion ocuses on he echno-economic calcula ions o he implemen a ion o he
Co Powe Wa e Ene gy Con e e a he selec ed loca ion, de ined by he buoy SIMAR
3010017. The ollowing subsec ions de ail he s eps aken o calcula e key pa ame e s such
as signi ican wa e heigh (Hs), peak pe iod (Tp), powe densi y, and a ailable powe . These
calcula ions a e essen ial o assess he ene gy po en ial o he deploymen si e and es ima e
he pe o mance o he WEC.
1.A e age signi ican heigh and peak pe iod
The a e age signi ican wa e heigh (Hs,a g) and peak pe iod (Tp,a g) a e essen ial
pa ame e s o unde s anding he wa e condi ions a he deploymen si e. These alues gi e
insigh in o he ypical sea s a e he WEC will encoun e , helping o e alua e i s ope a ional
sui abili y. I is c ucial o e i y ha he Hs alues all wi hin he ope a ional ange o he
Co Powe de ice, which is be ween 0.25 m and 8 m.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 53
Using equa ions (18) , (19) and he p e ios Table 11 “F equency o Hs and Tp combina ions”,
he a e age alues o Hs and Tp we e calcula ed based on he equency dis ibu ion o
di e en wa e condi ions a he si e.
𝐻𝑠,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑗)∗𝐻𝑠,𝑖
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1
∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑗)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 (Eq.18)
𝑇𝑝,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑗)∗𝑇𝑝,𝑗
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1
∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑗)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 (Eq. 19)
𝐻𝑠,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =1,81𝑚 & 𝑇𝑝,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =10,17𝑠
A e pe o ming he calcula ions, he a e age signi ican wa e heigh (Hs) is ound o be 1.81
m, and he a e age peak pe iod (Tp) is 10.17 s. These a e ages indica e he ypical wa e
condi ions a he si e. Addi ionally, he mos equen combina ion obse ed is Hs = 1.5 m and
Tp ≥ 11 s, while he leas equen combina ions include Hs = 4.5 m wi h Tp = 8 s and Hs = 5
m wi h Tp = 9 s.
2. Theo e ical Powe densi y (𝑷𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔)
The heo e ical powe densi y ep esen s he wa e powe a ailable a he si e pe me e o
wa e on . This alue is calcula ed o all combina ions o Hs and Tp using Equa ion 20 o
achie e maximum accu acy. The powe densi y p o ides an es ima e o how much powe can
be gene a ed om he wa es a he si e, depending on he signi ican wa e heigh and peak
pe iod.
𝑃𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠= ρg²
64π∗Hs²Tp (Eq. 20)
Table 12 Theo e ical powe densi y o di e en combina ions o Hs and Tp.
𝑷𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒔
(kW/m)
Peak Pe iod (s)
<=1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10>
Signi ican heigh (m)
<=0,5
-
-
0,37
0,49
0,61
0,74
0,86
0,98
1,10
1,23
1,35
1
-
-
1,47
1,96
2,45
2,94
3,43
3,92
4,42
4,91
5,40
1,5
-
-
-
4,42
5,52
6,62
7,73
8,83
9,93
11,04
12,14
2
-
-
-
7,85
9,81
11,77
13,74
15,70
17,66
19,62
21,59
2,5
-
-
-
-
15,33
18,40
21,46
24,53
27,60
30,66
33,73
3
-
-
-
-
22,08
26,49
30,91
35,32
39,74
44,15
48,57
3,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
42,07
48,08
54,09
60,10
66,11
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
62,80
70,65
78,50
86,35
4,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
79,48
89,41
99,35
109,28
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
110,39
122,65
134,92
5,5=>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
148,41
163,25

Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 54
The esul s om he Table 12 show ha he highes powe densi y alues co espond o he
la ges Hs and Tp combina ions, as expec ed. To ob ain a ealis ic es ima e, he a e age powe
densi y is calcula ed by conside ing he equency o each Hs and Tp combina ion (eq 21).
𝑃𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)∗𝑃𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠,𝑎𝑣𝑔(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 ∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 (Eq. 21)
𝑃𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =21,757𝑘𝑊/𝑚
The calcula ed a e age powe densi y a he si e is 21.757 kW/m, indica ing he wa e ene gy
po en ial pe me e o wa e on . This alue is used o u he calcula ions.
3. A ailable Powe (𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒)
The a ailable powe ep esen s he powe ecei ed by he wa e ene gy con e e a a speci ic
loca ion. This calcula ion akes in o accoun he wa e powe densi y a he chosen loca ion in
Galicia, and de e mines how much ene gy is a ailable o he WEC h ough he e ec i e
cap u e wid h o he Co Powe de ice. The a ailable powe is calcula ed as he p oduc o
wa e powe densi y and he e ec i e cap u e wid h (eq. 22):
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒=𝑃𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠 [𝑘𝑊
𝑚]∗𝑊𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 (Eq. 22)
To compu e Pa ailable , we mus conside he wa e powe densi y Pdens o all combina ions
o peak pe iod and signi ican wa e heigh . Howe e , be o e p oceeding wi h his calcula ion,
i is necessa y o i s de e mine he e ec i e cap u e wid h. This p ocess begins by calcula ing
he wa eleng h (λ), which o deep wa e is gi en by he ollowing o mula (eq.23), whe e
g=9.81 m/s^2 is he g a i a ional accele a ion and Tp is he wa e pe iod o he chosen
loca ion:
λa g=𝑔∗𝑇𝑝2
2∗𝜋 (Eq.23)
The ollowing able 13 p o ides he calcula ed wa eleng h alues o a ious combina ions o
Hs and Tp. These alues, along wi h hei co esponding equencies, a e used o calcula e
he a e age wa eleng h:
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 55
Table 13 Wa eleng h o di e en combina ions o Hs and Tp.
λa g=∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)∗λa g(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 ∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 =164,76 𝑚 (Eq. 24)
Once he wa eleng h alues a e calcula ed o each combina ion o Hs and Tp, he a e age
wa eleng h o 164.76 m is ob ained by aking he weigh ed a e age using he co esponding
equencies wi h (Eq.24).
Righ a e , he e ec i e cap u e wid h is de e mined using he Cap u e Wid h Ra io (CWR),
which ep esen s he ela ionship be ween he cap u e wid h and he wa eleng h (Eq. 25). The
alues a e shown in he Table 14. Fo poin abso be s, he CWR ypically anges om 0.2 o
0.4. Gi en he mode a e wa e ene gy po en ial a he deploymen si e, a CWR o 0.2 is
conside ed an op imal ade-o be ween pe o mance and eliabili y. The e ec i e cap u e
wid h o each combina ion o Tp and Hs is calcula ed wi h (Eq.25), and he a e age alue o
32,95m is ound wi h he o mula in he (Eq. 26).
𝑊𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒=𝐶𝑊𝑅∗ λ (Eq. 25)
Table 14 Wcap u e o di e en combina ions o Hs and Tp.
Wcap u e,a g=∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)∗Wcap u e(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 ∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 =32,95𝑚 (Eq. 26)
Finally, using he wa e powe densi y able and he e ec i e cap u e wid h, he heo e ical
powe cap u ed is calcula ed wi h (eq. 27) o all combina ions o Hs and Tp as shown in he
𝛌 (m)
Peak Pe iod (s)
<=1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10>
Signi ican heigh (m)
<=0,5
-
-
0,22
0,47
1,52
3,54
27,31
101,32
160,87
217,02
305,29
1
-
-
6,59
19,06
11,16
20,74
90,96
205,34
558,24
1.221,25
1.954,57
1,5
-
-
-
8,07
7,57
16,13
29,91
51,56
192,74
1.069,02
2.885,00
2
-
-
-
0,55
0,98
7,59
29,30
33,27
65,26
313,82
2.255,33
2,5
-
-
-
-
0,31
1,07
26,16
27,38
55,77
151,13
1.514,57
3
-
-
-
-
0,20
0,17
10,17
19,38
33,51
95,24
984,46
3,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,61
11,59
26,94
84,31
645,35
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3,90
12,14
46,53
402,97
4,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0,20
2,91
20,92
190,81
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
0,25
11,09
113,92
5,5=>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1,25
108,06
𝑾 cap u e(m)
Peak Pe iod (s)
<=1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10>
Signi ican heigh (m)
<=0,5
-
-
2,81
5,00
7,81
11,24
15,30
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
1
-
-
2,81
5,00
7,81
11,24
15,30
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
1,5
-
-
-
5,00
7,81
11,24
15,30
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
2
-
-
-
5,00
7,81
11,24
15,30
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
2,5
-
-
-
-
7,81
11,24
15,30
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
3
-
-
-
-
7,81
11,24
15,30
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
3,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
15,30
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
4,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
19,98
25,29
31,23
37,78
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
25,29
31,23
37,78
5,5=>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
31,23
37,78
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 56
able 15, aking in o accoun hei espec i e equencies. The a e age a ailable powe is hen
de e mined wi h (Eq. 28).
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 =𝑃𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑠 ∗𝑊𝑐𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 (Eq.27)
Table 15 A ailable powe o di e en combina ions o Hs and Tp.
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)∗𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒,𝑎𝑣𝑔(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 ∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 (Eq. 28)
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =775,812 𝑘𝑊
The a e age a ailable powe is calcula ed o be 775,812 kW. This alue ep esen s he powe
gene a ed by he sea a he selec ed si e ha is a ailable o he de ice, no he powe abso bed
by he de ice i sel , as he de ice has a speci ic abso p ion e iciency.
3. Gene a ed powe
The gene a ed powe e e s o he powe p oduced by he Co Powe de ice a he speci ic
loca ion unde s udy. To ob ain he alues in Table 16, hese we e manually calcula ed using
he Co Powe de ice's powe ma ix, which p o ides he gene a ed powe o each
combina ion o signi ican wa e heigh (Hs) and peak pe iod (Tp) a he deploymen si e. Fo
Tp alues o 3 and 4 seconds, he alues we e app oxima ed since hey do no appea in he
Co Powe powe ma ix. Howe e , hese a e combina ions wi h e y low equency, so he
ma gin o e o is minimal.
I should be no ed ha he Co Powe de ice's powe ma ix was ob ained h ough simula ion.
As a esul , some alues abo e 300 kW we e gene a ed, bu since he de ice's nominal powe
is 300 kW (i canno p oduce mo e han his amoun ), any alues exceeding his limi we e
capped a 300 kW.
𝑷𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆
(𝒌𝑾)
Peak Pe iod (s)
<=1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10>
Signi ican heigh (m)
<=0,5
-
-
1,03
2,45
4,79
8,27
13,14
19,61
27,9
38,3
50,98
1
-
-
4,14
9,80
19,15
33,09
52,54
78,43
111,6
153,2
203,9
1,5
-
-
-
22,06
43,08
74,46
118,22
176,48
251,2
344,6
458,7
2
-
-
-
39,22
76,59
132,37
210,18
313,74
446,7
612,7
815,6
2,5
-
-
-
-
119,68
206,83
328,40
490,21
698,0
957,4
1.274,4
3
-
-
-
-
172,33
297,83
472,89
705,91
1.005,1
1.378,7
1.835,1
3,5
-
-
-
-
-
0,11
643,66
960,82
1.368,1
1.876,6
2.497,8
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.254,94
1.786,9
2.451,1
3.262,5
4,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.588,29
2.261,6
3.102,2
4.129,1
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
2.792,1
3.829,9
5.097,6
5,5=>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4.634,1
6.168,1
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 57
Table 16 Gene a ed powe o di e en combina ions o Hs and Tp.
A e p ocessing he powe ma ix da a and he equency able wi h (Eq.29), he a e age
gene a ed powe was calcula ed o be 124.224 kW.
𝑃𝑔𝑒𝑛,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)∗𝑃𝑔𝑒𝑛(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 ∑ ∑ 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑞(𝐻𝑠,𝑖,𝑇𝑝,𝑖)
𝑛
𝑗=1
𝑚
𝑖=1 (Eq. 29)
𝑃𝑔𝑒𝑛,𝑎𝑣𝑔 =124,224 𝑘𝑊
5.2.2 Technical KPIs
In his sec ion o he hesis, a ious echnical Key Pe o mance Indica o s a e analyzed o
e alua e he pe o mance o he Co Powe Wa e Ene gy Con e e in he speci ic condi ions
o Galicia, Spain. These KPIs include e iciency, capaci y ac o , and no malized annual ene gy
p oduc ion (NAEP), which p o ide essen ial insigh s in o he de ice’s ene gy p oduc ion
capabili ies and o e all e ec i eness in ha nessing wa e ene gy.
1.E iciency
E iciency is de ined as he a io o he ene gy gene a ed by he de ice o he ene gy a ailable
om he sea a he loca ion exp essed by (Eq. 30). The e iciency is calcula ed o all
combina ions o signi ican wa e heigh (Hs) and peak pe iod (Tp) shown in Table 17, and an
a e age alue is ob ained by weigh ing i acco ding o he equency o each combina ion (Eq.
31).
𝜂= 𝑃𝑔𝑒𝑛
𝑃𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑙𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 ∗100 (Eq. 30)
𝑷𝒈𝒆𝒏(𝒌𝑾)
Peak Pe iod (s)
<=1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10>
Signi ican heigh (m)
<=0,5
-
-
1,5
3
4
8,3
12,5
16,5
20
22
24
1
-
-
3
6
8
16,6
25
33,3
48
50
56,25
1,5
-
-
-
10
12
25
44
58
80
83,3
100
2
-
-
-
13
16
33,3
70
112,5
135
148
150
2,5
-
-
-
-
20
50
110
165
185
205
215
3
-
-
-
-
25
75
150
216
248
260
258
3,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
183
270
300
300
300
4
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
300
300
300
300
4,5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
300
300
300
300
5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
300
300
300
5,5=>
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
300
300
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 64
𝐶𝐴𝑃𝐸𝑋(€)=𝑃𝑛(𝑘𝑊)∗𝐶𝐴𝑃𝐸𝑋 €
𝑘𝑊 =300∗303.750=91.125.000€ (Eq. 46)
𝑂𝑃𝐸𝑋( €
𝑘𝑊∗𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟)=𝐶𝐴𝑃𝐸𝑋( €
𝑘𝑊)∗𝑂𝑃𝐸𝑋( %
𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟)=303.750∗0,04=12.150 €
𝑘𝑊∗𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 (Eq. 47)
𝑂𝑃𝐸𝑋(€)=𝐶𝐴𝑃𝐸𝑋(€)∗𝑂𝑃𝐸𝑋(%)=91.125.000∗0,04=3.645.000€/𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 (Eq. 48)
Since all he a iables in he LCOE and PBP o mulas a e mul iplied by 81, he esul ing alues
should emain unchanged. Howe e , i economies o scale we e conside ed, bo h he LCOE
and PBP would dec ease due o educed cos s associa ed wi h bulk pu chasing, managemen
op imiza ion, and sha ed in as uc u e.
In he case o he LCOE, al hough he NAEP om he 81 de ices inc eases o 293.814,54
kWh/kWyea (eq. 44), he p opo ional inc ease in CAPEX and OPEX keeps he LCOE a
0.155 €/kWh. This is because all o he ac o s, including he ini ial in es men and ope a ional
cos s, inc ease in a simila manne .
Simila ly, he payback pe iod (PBP) also emains a 11.21 yea s. E en hough he e enue
inc eases o 11.767.272,33€ (Eq. 59) wi h he addi ion o mo e de ices, he scaling o CAPEX
and OPEX o ma ch he la ge ins alla ion ensu es ha he PBP emains unchanged.
The e o e, despi e he highe e enue, he payback pe iod does no dec ease unless
economies o scale a e ac o ed in, which would educe bo h CAPEX and OPEX, leading o a
sho e payback pe iod.
𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑢𝑒=𝑁𝐴𝐸𝑃( 𝑘𝑊ℎ
𝑘𝑊𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟)∗𝑃𝑛(𝑘𝑊)∗𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑐𝑒( €
𝑘𝑊ℎ)=293.814,54∗300∗0,1335=
11.767.272,33€ (Eq. 59)
The g id ins alla ion analysis o 81 de ices, as e lec ed in he calcula ions, shows ha ,
wi hou conside ing economies o scale, he only alues ha change a e he CAPEX, OPEX,
p oduc ion, NAEP, e enues, and o al cash low. I economies o scale we e conside ed, he
LCOE and PBP would dec ease due o educed cos s associa ed wi h bulk pu chasing,
managemen op imiza ion, and sha ed in as uc u e.

Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 65
5.3 DISCUSSION
The economic analysis o he Co Powe wa e ene gy con e e e eals a highly p omising
inancial ou look, based on se e al key indica o s. The calcula ed Le elized Cos o Ene gy o
155 €/MWh is no ably lowe han he expec ed ange o wa e ene gy con e e s by 2030,
which ypically alls be ween 1130 €/MWh and 226 €/MWh. This low LCOE is a s ong indica o
ha Co Powe is a highly compe i i e op ion o ene gy gene a ion in he wa e ene gy sec o ,
making i a po en ially a ac i e solu ion o sus ainable ene gy p oduc ion. Addi ionally, he
Payback Pe iod o 11.21 yea s, based on a e age ene gy p oduc ion and expec ed e enue,
alls wi hin he common 8-15 yea s ange o comme cial WECs. This sugges s ha he de ice
can gene a e su icien e u ns wi hin a easonable ime ame, making i a inancially iable
in es men .
Howe e , while hese esul s a e encou aging, he e a e o he ac o s ha could impac he
o e all cos s and inancial easibili y o he Co Powe WEC. The analysis p ima ily ocuses on
CAPEX, OPEX, and o he in e nal cos s, bu i does no ully accoun o in as uc u e- ela ed
expenses. These expenses, which include he cos o o sho e g id connec ions, cabling, and
emo e main enance logis ics, could signi ican ly inc ease he o e all deploymen cos and
he e o e aise he LCOE in eal-wo ld applica ions. The cos o ins alla ion in as uc u e, while
no cap u ed in he ini ial analysis, is a c i ical conside a ion ha could al e he o e all
economic iabili y o he echnology.
In addi ion o in as uc u e cos s, he speci ic cha ac e is ics o he wa e clima e a he
deploymen loca ion mus be ho oughly e alua ed. The pe o mance o he de ice is highly
dependen on local wa e condi ions, and a ia ions in ene gy a ailabili y ac oss di e en si es
can di ec ly a ec bo h ope a ional cos s and expec ed e enue. A mo e de ailed analysis o
si e-speci ic condi ions, along wi h op imiza ion e o s, could lead o imp o ed pe o mance
and po en ially lowe cos s, u he enhancing he inancial me ics o he de ice. Technological
ad ancemen s ha imp o e he e iciency o he de ice could also con ibu e o cos educ ions
o e ime.
Rega ding g id in eg a ion, he analysis indica es ha o achie e a o al ou pu o 10 MW, 81
Co Powe de ices a e equi ed based on he a e age powe gene a ed. This emphasizes he
impo ance o designing he sys em o e ec i ely handle po en ial o e p oduc ion and ensu e
s abili y in he ene gy ou pu . Fu he mo e, scaling up he ins alla ion would educe cos s due
o economies o scale, such as bulk pu chasing, op imized ope a ions, and sha ed
in as uc u e. While economies o scale we e no included in his analysis, i is expec ed ha
hei inco po a ion would lead o educed LCOE and PBP, making la ge-scale deploymen s
mo e economically easible.
The need o accoun o o e p oduc ion is pa icula ly impo an in he con ex o g id
in eg a ion. Excess ene gy gene a ed by he wa e ene gy con e e s could pose challenges,
such as he need o e icien s o age solu ions o g id managemen s a egies. The e o e,
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 66
p ope design o he sys em o manage hese ac o s is c ucial o ensu e ha he ene gy
p oduced is e ec i ely u ilized.
In conclusion, he Co Powe WEC shows s ong po en ial o comme cial success in he wa e
ene gy sec o . Despi e he need o u he conside a ion o in as uc u e and g id in eg a ion
cos s, he de ice demons a es solid echno-economic iabili y. Wi h con inued de elopmen ,
si e-speci ic op imiza ion, and scaling e o s, Co Powe could play a key ole in ad ancing he
enewable ene gy ma ke , pa icula ly in he wa e ene gy segmen . The abili y o u he
educe cos s, imp o e pe o mance, and in eg a e e icien ly in o he g id could enable he
de ice o make a subs an ial con ibu ion o he ansi ion o sus ainable ene gy.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 67
6. PLANNING
The p ojec spans ou mon hs, om Oc obe 2024 o Janua y 2025, ocusing on he echno-
economic analysis o wa e ene gy con e e s. I is o ganized in o h ee phases: ounda ional
esea ch (g een), case de elopmen and calcula ions (blue), and analysis and inaliza ion
(pink). The p ocess p og esses om explo ing wa e ene gy concep s and echno-economic
indica o s o compa ing WECs, selec ing an op imal loca ion, and conduc ing a
comp ehensi e e alua ion.
The imings o key asks a e ep esen ed in he in ol e:
1. Ini ial esea ch on wa e ene gy undamen als, echno-economic KPIs, and a ailable
WEC echnologies. This s ep consis s on ge ing enough backg ound on he subjec o
be able o de ine a p ojec scope.
2. De ining he p ojec scope, including ou lining he p ojec 's s uc u e and
me hodology.
3. De eloping he heo e ical backg ound, co e ing wa e ene gy, economic me ics,
and a de ailed e iew o WEC echnologies.
4. Compa a i e analysis o WECs o de e mine he mos sui able con e e o a
speci ic loca ion.
5. Resea ching po en ial deploymen loca ions and selec ing one based on ene gy
po en ial and economic iabili y.
6. Techno-economic analysis o he selec ed WEC in he chosen loca ion, including
CAPEX, OPEX, LCOE,PBP and o he key me ics.
7. Final analysis o esul s o assess he iabili y and e iciency o he p oposed
solu ion.
8. W i ing and inalizing he epo , ensu ing all indings a e documen ed clea ly and
p o essionally.
Figu e 34 Gan Cha o Techno-Economic Analysis P ojec
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 68
7. ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT
The economic assessmen o he echno-economic analysis o wa e ene gy con e e s
includes a ious componen s such as labou cos s, ha dwa e amo isa ion, ope a ional cos s,
and axes. Below is a de ailed b eakdown o all expenses incu ed du ing he p ojec
de elopmen .
Ha dwa e Cos s (Amo isa ion)
The main ha dwa e used o he p ojec was a desk op compu e pu chased o 1,200€.
Conside ing an expec ed li espan o 5 yea s, he annual amo isa ion a e is 240€ pe yea .
Since he p ojec las ed o 4 mon hs, he amo isa ion cos o he p ojec du a ion is 80€.
Labou Cos s
The p ojec equi ed a signi ican amoun o ime o esea ch, analysis, and epo p epa a ion.
The Final Deg ee P ojec (TFG) accoun s o 12 ECTS c edi s, each equi alen o 25-30 hou s
o wo k. Fo his analysis, we assume 360 hou s o dedica ion a an hou ly a e o 15€, esul ing
in a o al labou cos o 5,400€.
Ope a ional Cos s
The ope a ional cos s include in e ne usage, elec ici y consump ion, and o he ela ed
expenses.The p ojec equi ed con inuous in e ne access o e 4 mon hs. Assuming an
in e ne cos o 40€ pe mon h, he o al in e ne cos amoun s o 160€. As o he elec ici y
consump ion, he desk op compu e used o he p ojec has an app oxima e powe
consump ion o 0.2 kW. Wi h an elec ici y a e o 0.15€ pe kWh and a o al usage ime o 360
hou s, he elec ici y cos amoun s o 10.80€.
To al Cos s Summa y
Expense
Expense amoun
Compu e Amo isa ion
80€
Labou Cos s (360 hou s)
5.400€
In e ne Usage
160€
Elec ici y Consump ion
10,8€
To al Es ima ed Cos
5.650,80€
Labou cos s ep esen he la ges po ion o he budge , e lec ing he ime in es men
equi ed. Ope a ional cos s a e minimal, indica ing e icien esou ce use. The o e all cos is
easonable conside ing he p ojec 's complexi y and scope.
Tax Conside a ions
In a ealis ic scena io, he o al cos o he p ojec should include applicable axes. Fo his
assessmen , we conside a Value Added Tax (VAT) a e o 21%. The e o e, he o al cos wi h
VAT included is 6,837.47€.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 69
8. ENVIROMENTAL ASSESSMENT
This sec ion e alua es he en i onmen al impac o he Co Powe Poin Abso be , ocusing on
i s li ecycle om manu ac u ing o decommissioning. The assessmen highligh s key
en i onmen al indica o s such as g eenhouse gas emissions, ene gy and wa e use, was e
gene a ion, and po en ial ecosys em impac s. Addi ionally, he posi i e en i onmen al
con ibu ions o he de ice a e discussed, emphasizing i s ole in educing dependence on
ossil uels and mi iga ing clima e change.
Manu ac u ing and Ma e ial Requi emen s
The Co Powe Poin Abso be , weighing 70 onnes, elies p ima ily on s eel, a ma e ial wi h a
high ca bon oo p in . P oducing 70,000 kg o s eel emi s app oxima ely 129,500 kg o CO₂,
based on a s anda d emission ac o o 1.85 kg CO₂ pe kg o s eel. This s age also equi es
signi ican wa e esou ces; s eel p oduc ion consumes app oxima ely 25,000 li e s o wa e
pe onne, amoun ing o 1.75 million li e s. While s eel's ecyclabili y mi iga es some o hese
impac s, he ini ial esou ce demand emains subs an ial.
Du ing manu ac u ing, addi ional ma e ials like coa ings and mechanical componen s also
con ibu e o emissions and was e. These ma e ials, hough smalle in olume, equi e p ope
managemen o a oid ha m ul en i onmen al e ec s.
Ope a ion and Ene gy P oduc ion
The Co Powe Poin Abso be is designed o ope a e e icien ly, wi h a capaci y ac o o 40–
60%. A an a e age o 50%, he de ice gene a es app oxima ely 1.31 GWh o elec ici y
annually. O e i s 20-yea li espan, his equa es o 26.2 GWh o enewable ene gy. When
eplacing coal- i ed elec ici y, which emi s abou 1 kg o CO₂ pe kWh, he Co Powe o se s
26,200 onnes o CO₂, a signi ican educ ion in g eenhouse gas emissions.
Main enance ac i i ies, such as pe iodic inspec ions and pa eplacemen s, con ibu e mino
emissions. Wi h ope a ional expenses (OPEX) es ima ed a 3–5% o CAPEX, emissions om
main enance a e minimal compa ed o he o e all en i onmen al bene i s. Howe e , essel
ope a ions o main enance ips elease small amoun s o pollu an s, including ni ogen
oxides (NOₓ) and sul u dioxide (SO₂). O e wo decades, hese a e es ima ed a 1.5 onnes
o NOₓ and 0.5 onnes o SO₂, based on s anda d ma ine uel emission ac o s.
Decommissioning and Was e Managemen
A he end o i s 20-yea li espan, he Co Powe Poin Abso be is decommissioned.
App oxima ely 85% o he s eel used in he de ice can be ecycled, signi ican ly educing
was e gene a ion. Fo a 70- onne de ice, his ansla es o 59.5 onnes o ecyclable
ma e ial, lea ing only 10.5 onnes as was e. P ope disposal o haza dous ma e ials, such as
lub ican s, is c i ical o a oid con amina ion du ing decommissioning.

Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 70
Posi i e En i onmen al Con ibu ions
The Co Powe Poin Abso be o e s subs an ial en i onmen al bene i s compa ed o ossil
uel-based ene gy sys ems. Fi s , i s compac design and high capaci y ac o enable
signi ican ene gy gene a ion wi h minimal ma e ial use, educing i s o e all oo p in . The
de ice ope a es wi h low noise emissions, minimizing dis u bance o ma ine li e. Addi ionally,
i s ope a ional ange o 0.25–8 me e s in wa e heigh ensu es consis en ene gy p oduc ion
e en in a iable sea s a es.
Ano he ad an age is he de ice’s po en ial o enhance ma ine ecosys ems. I s ancho ing
s uc u es can ac as a i icial ee s, p o iding habi a o ish and o he ma ine o ganisms.
O e ime, hese s uc u es may con ibu e o inc eased biodi e si y in he deploymen a ea.
The Co Powe 's abili y o o se 26,200 onnes o CO₂ o e i s li e ime unde sco es i s
impo ance in mi iga ing clima e change. To con ex ualize his achie emen , plan ing a ee
seques e s an a e age o 25 kg o CO₂ du ing i s g ow h. Thus, he Co Powe ’s emissions
sa ings a e equi alen o plan ing o e 1 million ees.
Conclusion
The Co Powe Poin Abso be demons a es a s ong en i onmen al p o ile, wi h i s enewable
ene gy p oduc ion signi ican ly ou weighing he impac s o manu ac u ing, anspo a ion, and
main enance. O e 20 yea s, he de ice o se s subs an ial GHG emissions, educes
dependence on ossil uels, and suppo s biodi e si y in ma ine ecosys ems. While challenges
emain, pa icula ly in manu ac u ing and was e managemen , a ge ed mi iga ion s a egies
can u he enhance i s en i onmen al sus ainabili y.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 71
9.SOCIAL AND GENDER EQULITY ASSESSMENT
Wa e ene gy o e s a p omising pa h owa d eliable, clean ene gy sys ems, wi h echnologies
like Co Powe poised o d i e he ene gy ansi ion while os e ing sus ainable jobs, pa icula ly
in coas al egions. Howe e , add essing gende inequali y and social jus ice is c ucial o
ensu e hese bene i s a e equi ably sha ed.
Gende Inequali y in Access o Technology
Women emain unde ep esen ed in ene gy and echnology sec o s, wi h only 15% o s uden s
in ene gy- ela ed echnical ields in Spain being women (Minis y o Indus y, T ade, and
Tou ism). This dispa i y ex ends o he wo k o ce, whe e women hold ewe echnical and
leade ship oles, especially in ma ine ene gy. Pe cep ions ha oles like in as uc u e
ins alla ion o p ojec managemen a e male-domina ed exace ba e his inequali y, c ea ing
cul u al and social ba ie s despi e women’s echnical quali ica ions.
The enewable ene gy sec o , including wa e ene gy, o e s an oppo uni y o add ess his
gap. Wi h policies ha p omo e aining and awa eness, women’s pa icipa ion can inc ease,
po en ially d i ing cul u al shi s in enginee ing and echnology.
Gende Dynamics in This P ojec
The gende imbalance obse ed in he sec o is e lec ed in his p ojec ’s composi ion: he
eam is p edominan ly male, wi h mysel , he au ho , being he only woman in ol ed. This
mi o s b oade ends whe e women emain a mino i y in echnical and leade ship oles.
G ea e gende di e si y in esea ch eams could imp o e inclusi i y and os e inno a i e
solu ions by ensu ing di e se pe spec i es a e ep esen ed.
Social Impac s o Wa e Ene gy
Wa e ene gy p ojec s, like hose om Co Powe , ha e he po en ial o c ea e up o 400,000
sus ainable jobs globally by 2050. Coas al communi ies, o en elian on adi ional indus ies
like ishing, could bene i om economic g ow h and inno a ion. Howe e , ensu ing equal
access o hese oppo uni ies o women and unde ep esen ed g oups is essen ial. This
equi es inclusi e aining p og ams and policies ha ac i ely educe ba ie s o pa icipa ion
and p omo e gende di e si y.
Inclusi e Language and Rep esen a ion
Using inclusi e, non-sexis language and ensu ing balanced isual ep esen a ion in p ojec
ma e ials can challenge s e eo ypes and encou age b oade pa icipa ion. Fea u ing men and
women equally in image y and language os e s a cul u e o equi y and inclusion.
In conclusion, wa e ene gy ep esen s a i al oppo uni y o sus ainable de elopmen , bu i s
success depends on in eg a ing social and gende equi y conside a ions. Inclusi e policies,
accessible aining, and cul u al shi s a e essen ial o ensu ing his echnology bene i s
e e yone, ega dless o gende o social s a us.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 72
9. CONCLUSIONS
This s udy has assessed he echnical and economic easibili y o implemen ing a Wa e
Ene gy Con e e (WEC) along he Spanish coas line. Despi e limi a ions in in eg a ed da a
sou ces and indus y collabo a ion, he indings highligh he po en ial o his echnology in he
enewable ene gy ansi ion.
The esea ch began wi h an in-dep h explo a ion o wa e ene gy undamen als and a
compa a i e analysis o a ious WEC echnologies. The Co Powe Ocean de ice was
iden i ied as he mos sui able op ion due o i s high e iciency and adap abili y o si e-speci ic
condi ions.
The chosen loca ion was selec ed based on i s sui abili y o he selec ed WEC, a oiding
p o ec ed a eas and zones p io i ized o o he ac i i ies. This app oach ensu ed bo h echnical
easibili y and minimal con lic wi h en i onmen al and socio-economic in e es s.
The echno-economic analysis, inco po a ing me ics such as Le elized Cos o Elec ici y
(LCOE), Payback Pe iod (PBP), and Capaci y Fac o (CF), demons a ed ha wa e ene gy,
while equi ing high ini ial in es men s, o e s compe i i e long- e m cos s. Howe e ,
challenges emain, including he absence o a comple e ins alla ion design and he lack o
de ailed pe o mance da a o ce ain de ices.
Fu u e e o s should ocus on expanding he scope o analysis o include addi ional WECs
and loca ions, explo ing hyb id sys ems wi h o he enewables like o sho e wind, and
de eloping comp ehensi e designs o ins alla ions. C ea ing uni ied da a eposi o ies and
os e ing s onge collabo a ion wi h indus y s akeholde s a e also c ucial s eps.
In conclusion, while signi ican ba ie s emain, wa e ene gy p esen s a p omising oppo uni y
o di e si y Spain’s enewable ene gy mix. Con inued echnological ad ancemen s and
coo dina ed e o s will be key o unlocking i s ull po en ial.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 73
10. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like o exp ess my hea el g a i ude o my supe iso , Ma c Cheah, o p oposing his
p ojec and p o iding in aluable guidance h oughou i s de elopmen . His expe ise and
suppo ha e been ins umen al in shaping he di ec ion and quali y o his wo k.
This p ojec holds a special meaning o me as i combines wo passions ha ha e been
shaped by my pa en s. My in e es in enewable ene gies, inspi ed by my mo he ’s dedica ion
o sus ainabili y, and my lo e o he sea, ins illed by my a he , ha e bo h deeply in luenced
my connec ion o his opic. Thei encou agemen and he alues hey ha e passed on o me
ha e been a cons an sou ce o mo i a ion du ing his jou ney.
Techno-economical analysis o wa e gene a ion solu ions Pág. 80
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