Wave energy resource assessment in Menorca (Spain)

Menorca (Balearic Islands) only covers 2% of its electricity needs with renewable energy sources, which is far below the European Union's objective of obtaining 20% of its energy from these sources. This study analyses the island's wave energy resources using a 17-year series of data obtained from numerical modeling (forecast). The spatial distribution of wave power is analyzed using data from 12 points around the island. The obtained resources (average wave power, around 8.9 kW/m; average annual wave energy, about 78 MW h/m) are relatively modest but among the largest found in the Mediterranean Sea. The northeast and east of the island are the most productive areas. Considerable seasonal variability is found, with winters being rather energetic and summers quite mild. The power matrices of three wave energy converters (WECs) are considered to assess the average power output at all of the points. Four places are identified as the best candidates for WEC deployment, with non-negligible productivity that can be exploited to supply energy to small villages. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.