The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands

Esteban Meneses; Rafael Soria; Jesús Portilla; Wilson Guachamín-Acero; Ricardo Álvarez; Rubén Paredes; Mijail Arias-Hidalgo

doi:10.1016/j.esr.2024.101457

The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands

Esteban Meneses
, Rafael Soria^*
, Jesús Portilla
, Wilson Guachamín-Acero
, Ricardo Álvarez
, Rubén Paredes
, Mijail Arias-Hidalgo

^*Corresponding author for this work

Universidad San Francisco de Quito
Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral
Escuela Politecnica Nacional

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Article number	101457
Journal	Energy Strategy Reviews
Volume	54
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2024.101457
State	Published - Jul 2024

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Energy potential types
Energy transition
Galapagos islands
Long-term scenarios
OSeMOSYS
Wave Energy Converter

Access to Document

10.1016/j.esr.2024.101457

Cite this

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title = "The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands",

abstract = "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{\textquoteright} 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{\textquoteright} power system, reducing fossil fuel reliance, and mitigating climate change impacts.",

keywords = "Energy potential types, Energy transition, Galapagos islands, Long-term scenarios, OSeMOSYS, Wave Energy Converter",

author = "Esteban Meneses and Rafael Soria and Jes{\'u}s Portilla and Wilson Guacham{\'i}n-Acero and Ricardo {\'A}lvarez and Rub{\'e}n Paredes and Mijail Arias-Hidalgo",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 The Author(s)",

year = "2024",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1016/j.esr.2024.101457",

language = "Ingl{\'e}s",

volume = "54",

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T1 - The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands

AU - Meneses, Esteban

AU - Soria, Rafael

AU - Portilla, Jesús

AU - Guachamín-Acero, Wilson

AU - Álvarez, Ricardo

AU - Paredes, Rubén

AU - Arias-Hidalgo, Mijail

PY - 2024/7

Y1 - 2024/7

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Energy potential types

KW - Energy transition

KW - Galapagos islands

KW - Long-term scenarios

KW - OSeMOSYS

KW - Wave Energy Converter

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U2 - 10.1016/j.esr.2024.101457

DO - 10.1016/j.esr.2024.101457

M3 - Artículo

AN - SCOPUS:85196855999

SN - 2211-467X

VL - 54

JO - Energy Strategy Reviews

JF - Energy Strategy Reviews

M1 - 101457

ER -

The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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Data from Universidad San Francisco de Quito Provide New Insights into Energy Research (The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands)

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The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Data from Universidad San Francisco de Quito Provide New Insights into Energy Research (The potential of Wave Energy Converters in the Galapagos islands)

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