The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands

This study investigates the potential of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) technology in the Galapagos Islands. Despite the region’s high wave energy potential (262 TWh/year of gross potential and 25TWh/year of sustainable potential), the current high cost of WEC technology limits its economic competitiveness compared to mature renewables like solar and wind. Our analysis, using the OSeMOSYS model, reveals that decarbonizing the Galapagos’ power sector with solar and wind is feasible and cost-effective. However, deploying WECs is even more expensive. Initially, WECs have the highest levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) (43 ct.USD/kWh in 2030), but this decreases by 2050, ending up at 26 ct.USD/kWh, a value below the benchmark for fossil thermal power plants without fuel subsidies. Deploying WECs, together with solar and wind technologies may contribute for diversifying the Galapagos’ power system, reducing fossil fuel reliance, and mitigating climate change impacts. •Wave energy converters (WEC) could be an option for the long-term decarbonization in the Galapagos islands.•An application for Galapagos of the OSeMOSYS energy planning model is developed.•WECs have significant gross energy potential in the Galapagos, of 262 TWh/year.•WECs have significant sustainable energy potential in the Galapagos, of 25 TWh/year.•In a WEC deployment scenario in Galapagos, WEC could produce between 92 and 152 MWh/year.