The study incorporates real data from a state-of-the-art wave energy converter under commercialization and addresses a gap in the global impact that wave energy can have.
The study further concludes that wave power will become cost-competitive with offshore wind power within a decade, with a levelized cost of electricity below 70 €/MWh by 2035. Mid-term projections indicate wave power competitiveness with offshore wind power, suggesting a levelized cost of electricity (LCoE) below 100 €/MWh by 2030. In the 2030s, point absorber-based wave power can reach a potential of 39,700 TWh of electricity for <100 €/MWh. By 2050, the LCoE could further decrease to <50 €/MWh with the potential to provide 29,000 TWh of electricity.
The work helps to illustrate how wave power can contribute to the diversification of energy sources, especially considering its complementarity with solar energy. The findings are particularly relevant for countries and regions with a high population density and other factors limiting the onshore renewable energy potential, which would otherwise depend on energy imports.
This research was conducted as part of the EU-SCORES project. Please find the full article HERE.
