Abstract
Ocean renewable energy, such as wave and tidal energies, is important for energy supply and decarbonization of offshore platforms and ships. However, the intermittent and non-dispatchable nature of wave and tidal energy remains a significant challenge. The hybrid wave-tidal energy conversion presents a potential solution to enhance output power and stability by leveraging their complementary characteristics. This paper reviews the current state of hybrid wave-tidal energy conversion technology, focusing on device design, modeling methods and testing methods. Many current hybrid wave-tidal energy converters (HWTEC) have not considered effective coupling among the modules of sub-systems to maximize efficiency. Modeling and simulation methods are mainly based on studies of single wave or tidal energy conversion, and non-linear system modeling is rare. The assumption of continuous functions in most models can lead to discrepancies from real-life conditions. Advancement of modeling approaches, co-simulation algorithms, and dedicated dry lab and pool tests for HWTEC are desired. While HWTEC is potential for improving ocean energy conversion, addressing key challenges of device design, modeling, testing and economic evaluation are essential for realizing its full potential in contributing to decarbonization.