Modelling Wave Energy Resources in the Irish West Coast

In order to assess the potential wave energy extraction, a study is made to validate a model that can be used to characterize Ireland’s wave climate in a more extensive study. The target area is the Irish West Coast, known for having the highest average wave power in Europe. The wave conditions in the coastal area were characterized by coupling the wave models SWAN and WAVEWATCH III. Validation tests are carried out with buoy data so that the model’s performance can be evaluated. The wave parameters considered for the comparisons in the time domain are significant wave height and mean period, and the spatial distribution of wave energy is examined in a case study. Theoretical values of wave power are obtained for sites close to the coast and in particular for the two tests sites of Galway and Belmullet.