Offshore and inshore wave energy assessment: Asturias (N Spain)

The offshore and inshore wave energy resource in Asturias (N Spain) is studied using wave buoy data and a hindcast dataset spanning 44 years (1958–2001). Offshore average wave power and annual wave energy values are found to exceed 30 kW/m and 250 MWh/m, respectively, at 7 of the 11 study sites. This substantial resource is characterised in terms of the sea states involved. Most of the energy is provided by IV quadrant waves with significant wave heights between 2 m and 5 m and energy periods between 11 s and 13 s. After analysing the offshore resource, numerical modelling is used to investigate the inshore wave patterns. A coastal wave model is validated with wave buoy data and applied to three case studies representative of storm, winter and summer conditions. Inshore wave energy concentration areas, of interest as prospective wave farm sites, are found to occur west of Cape Vidio and on the western side of the Cape Peñas peninsula. The methodology used in this investigation may serve as a model for wave energy assessments in other regions, especially where both the offshore and inshore resources are of consequence.