Wave energy exploitation in the Ionian Sea Hellenic coasts: spatial planning of potential wave power stations. Issue 4 (21st April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaldellis, John K.; Chrysikos, Theodoris
• Is Part Of: International journal of sustainable energy. Volume 38:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 312
• Page End: 332
• Publication Date: 2019-04-21
• Subjects: Wave energy -- electricity generation -- GIS -- MCDA -- siting; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; 621.4705
• DOI: 10.1080/14786451.2018.1539395
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-6451

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Wave energy represents the 'new entry' to Renewable Energy Sources discussion, in the context of clean and sustainable energy solutions in the electricity production sector. This research describes a geo-spatial Multiple-Criteria Decision Analysis, based on the Geographic Information Systems technology, for the identification of the best location to deploy a potential Wave Energy Farm in the Ionian Sea, an area offshore the Greek mainland West coast. For this purpose, several factors are taken into consideration; restrictions such as protected areas, military exercise areas etc. and weighted factors such as distance to power grid, wave height etc. The wave resource assessment is completed through real data measurements and numerical wave model approximations. The results pinpoint the most suitable areas for installing the proposed wave power plants, i.e. near the SW coast of Corfu, in the West side of the Straits between Kefallonia and Zakynthos and near the broader area of Pylos, in the SW coast of Peloponnesus. The suggested methodology can be equally applied in other spatial planning cases too, being considered as a checklist, addressed to policy-makers and private investors.