Abstract Numerical investigations dedicated to the impact of wave power variability on energy conversion were mainly conducted in the European shelf seas where a considerable amount of technological devices was developed. We complemented these studies by exploiting a 31-year consistent hindcast database of the wave climate, assessed against observations in 41 locations, in the North-West Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea. With an exception in the Caribbean Sea where wave power density increased under the influence of an easterly zonal wind, a clear contrast was exhibited in the available wave energy flux between the oceanic energetic regions of the North-West Atlantic and the semi-enclosed basins, protected from incoming waves conditions by a series of islands. The analysis revealed furthermore contrasting wave climates characterized by (i) significant temporal variability in the Gulf of Mexico and the northern oceanic region off the USA East Coast, and (ii) more moderated variations in the Caribbean Sea off Colombia and the southern oceanic area off the Lesser Antilles. A generic method, independent from the device technology, was finally adopted to assess the effects of resource variability on energy output and converters performances. The area off the Lesser Antilles appeared particularly interesting to supply, at reduced installed capacity but with more regular waves conditions, renewable energy within surrounding island territories.

中文翻译：

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使用长期后报数据库评估波浪功率可变性和开发

摘要 致力于研究波浪功率变化对能量转换影响的数值研究主要在开发了大量技术设备的欧洲大陆架海域进行。我们通过利用 31 年一致的波浪气候后报数据库对这些研究进行了补充，该数据库根据在西北大西洋、墨西哥湾和加勒比海的 41 个地点的观测进行评估。除了加勒比海的波浪功率密度在东向纬向风的影响下增加外，西北大西洋海洋高能区与半封闭盆地之间的可用波浪能通量呈现出明显的对比，由一系列岛屿保护免受来波条件的影响。分析进一步揭示了对比鲜明的波浪气候，其特征在于 (i) 墨西哥湾和美国东海岸北部海洋区域的显着时间变化，以及 (ii) 哥伦比亚附近的加勒比海和南部海洋区域的更温和的变化。小安的列斯群岛。最终采用独立于设备技术的通用方法来评估资源可变性对能量输出和转换器性能的影响。小安的列斯群岛附近的地区似乎特别适合在周围岛屿领土内以减少的装机容量但波浪条件更规律的可再生能源供应。(ii) 哥伦比亚附近的加勒比海和小安的列斯群岛附近的南部海洋区域的变化更为缓和。最终采用独立于设备技术的通用方法来评估资源可变性对能量输出和转换器性能的影响。小安的列斯群岛附近的地区似乎特别适合在周围岛屿领土内以减少的装机容量但波浪条件更规律的可再生能源供应。(ii) 哥伦比亚附近的加勒比海和小安的列斯群岛附近的南部海洋区域的变化更为缓和。最终采用独立于设备技术的通用方法来评估资源可变性对能量输出和转换器性能的影响。小安的列斯群岛附近的地区似乎特别适合在周围岛屿领土内以减少的装机容量但波浪条件更规律的可再生能源供应。