DRBEM-based modelling highlights India’s wave energy potential, emphasizing location-specific optimization and hybrid systems for coastal power needs sustainably.
Authors
Prachi Priya, Department of Mathematics, School of Basic Sciences, Galgotias University, Gautam Budh Nagar, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 203201, India
Vinita, Department of Applied Sciences, National Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi, 110040, India
Prashant Kumar, Department of Applied Sciences, National Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi, 110040, India
Ramakant Prasad, Department of Applied Sciences, National Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi, 110040, India
Yukiharu Hisaki, Physical Oceanography Laboratory, Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, 9030213
Rajni, Associate Professor,Jindal Global Business School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Summary
Wave power presents a promising solution to address the growing energy demands of a coastal nation like India. This study develops a mathematical model using the Dual Reciprocity Boundary Element Method (DRBEM) to investigate the spectral wave energy distribution at major Indian ports. DRBEM, a combination of the Dual Reciprocity Method and the Boundary Element Method, is employed to solve the Helmholtz equation in unbounded domains and the mild slope equation in bounded regions. The model is validated using in situ data from Pohang New Harbor, South Korea, and further evaluated through convergence analysis to ensure numerical accuracy. Incident wave characteristics are derived from ERA5 reanalysis data covering the period from 1980 to 2021. Seasonal variations in spectral wave energy are analyzed at key eastern ports Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, and Tuticorin—and western ports Mangrol, Mumbai, Mangalore, and Cochin. The influence of coastal boundaries with wave-absorbing properties is also assessed, showing a reduction in spectral wave energy at ports with such features, particularly for short and long wave periods. The findings emphasize the importance of location and seasonal patterns in optimizing wave energy utilization. A hybrid power system incorporating wave energy is recommended to alleviate power shortages in India’s remote coastal regions.
Published in: Ocean Engineering
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