Case study of wave power integration into the Ucluelet area electrical grid

• Main Author: St. Germain, Louise Anne
• Other Authors: Rowe, Andrew Michael
• Language: English; en
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: ocean wave power; renewable energy sources; British Columbia; Vancouver Island; UVic Subject Index::Sciences and Engineering::Engineering::Mechanical engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1828/1957

Technologies exist that can capture and convert wave energy but there are few studies examining systemic integration of wave energy devices. This work examines the potential to use wave energy as a renewable energy resource on Vancouver Island, specifically in the Tofino/Ucluelet area. A model of a wave energy conversion (WEC) device was developed as a module within TRNSYS™ where it can be coupled to a load as well as to a storage medium. For this particular study, wave profiles generated from hourly average data for a location on the west coast of Vancouver Island are used as a resource input. An analysis of the potential to use wave energy is carried out with an emphasis on overall system efficiency and resulting device scaling. The results of the wave energy conversion with and without storage, as well as the general economics of these scenarios, are used to make recommendations regarding technical feasibility of wave power projects on Vancouver Island.