• Energy Research

ECHOWAVE is the acronym used for European COasts High Resolution Ocean WAVEs Hindcast. The dataset was developed using WAVEWATCH III and has a resolution of approximately 2Km with a duration from 1990-2021 at hourly (1-hr) intervals. The coverage are the European Atlantic coastlines.The model employed a 2-way nesting multi-grid scheme to progressively increase spatial resolution closer to the coast (to about 2.3 km). The hindcast generation was designed specially to provide reliable sea states’ characterization for wave energy applications. Primarily, to reduce uncertainties in the wave resource estimation within European coastal waters. In this sense, there are 3 main characteristics from this dataset to highlight.(1) All physical parameterizations adjustments are applied to improve the performance within the North-East Atlantic. This approach allowed to reduce the bias for a wide range of wave heights in the area of interest (compared to existing datasets).(2) Adjustments’ verification and extensive validation is done using the latest ESA Sea State CCI V3 altimeter dataset, which is adequate for coastal applications.(3) High resolution within coastal areas, for depths ≤200 m, allows for a detailed characterization of the wave resource at nearshore and coastal areas.

In order to accelerate the transition from carbon fuels to renewable energy sources, it is essential to extend our knowledge of the resources’ availability to further improve or adjust the design of extraction devices. In the present paper, a first characterization of the tidal stream resource along the coast of The Netherlands is performed using a high-resolution unstructured grid implementation of the Thetis model. Extensive validation of the sea surface elevations was done by comparing with existing networks of tide gauges in the North Sea. The simulations from this study show that the highest tidal current intensities are generated mainly at Den Helder and Oost Vlieland, reaching values >1.5 m s−1 and power density estimates that are most frequently close to 300 W m−2 and that can reach values ≥ 900 W m−2. Given the relatively reduced depths where these ‘‘hot spots’’ are found, most existing stream turbines will require further development to operate. Nevertheless, the existence of higher current intensities zones, along a commonly considered ‘‘low energy’’ coast, opens the door to include the tidal stream resource in near future plans to diversify the energy supply in The Netherlands. Offshore Engineering