Abstract
The Blue Economy is defined as the sustainable use of available ocean resources for economic growth [1]. Within this context, the concept of Powering Blue Economy (PBE) applications refers to energy solutions and technological innovations that enable the development and operation of key economic activities in the ocean. PBE applications require reliable and autonomous energy sources, as many operate in remote environments far from the traditional power grid. Integrating marine energy, such as wave energy, at the required location can enhance energy autonomy and security while reducing or eliminating the dependence on traditional energy sources such as diesel.
This report provides an overview of wave energy conversion technologies and their applications within the blue economy context. It reviews the main types of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) and Power Take-Off (PTO) systems, highlighting their operating principles and implementation contexts. It also addresses key reference projects, identifies opportunities and challenges for marine energy applications, and examines suitable WEC–PTO combinations for different energy demands.
In the first part of this report, a review of the most commonly used WECs is presented, based on their operating principles and installation locations. Next, the Reference Model Project (RMP), sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE), is introduced, where Reference Models (RMs) 3, 5, and 6 were studied (RM3, RM5, and RM6, respectively), which focus on the conversion of wave energy. RM3 represents a two-body Point Absorber (PA) design, RM5 is an Oscillating Surge Wave Converter (OSWC), and RM6 is an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) device. While the DOE RMs (RM3, RM5, and RM6) were developed for grid-connected utility-scale installations, they can also be scaled down for PBE applications. The section concludes with a summary table presenting the main lessons learned from each RM, particularly regarding the reproducibility of numerical simulations and experimental results.
In the next chapter, a general description of the most commonly used PTO systems in combination with WECs is given. A comparative table that gathers the main characteristics and features of each PTO system is made as a reference to be used in future sections of this report. The studied PTO systems are the Hydraulic Motor Based (HMB), Direct Mechanical Drive (DMD), Direct Electrical Drive (DED) and Air Turbines (AT).
In addition, opportunities and challenges associated with the implementation of WECs in Powering Blue Economy (PBE) applications are presented, followed by an overview of the energy requirements of each sector. For this report, the following applications are considered: Offshore Marine Aquaculture; Desalination; Ocean Observation and Autonomous Vehicle Charging; as well as a brief description of the implementation of WECs in Isolated Remote Communities. Finally, three WECs (OWC, OSWC, and PA) are matched with every key PBE application, in addition to the studied PTO systems (AT, MDD, EDD, and HMB). The functional combinations of WECs and PTO systems are selected on the basis of the requirements previously outlined, ensuring optimal performance, efficiency, and compatibility with each PBE application energy demands.