Marine Energy

SAM's Marine Energy Wave and Marine Energy Tidal models are for systems that convert energy of ocean waves or tides into electricity.

SAM's marine energy performance models are coupled with the LCOE Calculator financial model to facilitate calculating the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) using an approach consistent with the method discussed in the following document:

• LaBonte, A. et al. (2013). Standardized cost and performance reporting for marine and hydrokinetic technologies. 11 pp. Proceedings of 1st Marine Energy Technology Symposium, Washington DC.

Marine Energy Wave Model

The marine energy wave model is for a system that uses a wave energy converter (WEC) to convert the energy of ocean waves into electricity. The model requires the following inputs:

• A table of wave height versus wave energy period to characterize the wave resource.
• Performance parameters for the wave energy converter.
• A table of x-y positions if the system is an array of multiple WECs.
• Data specifying expected losses due to array spacing, resource prediction uncertainty, electrical transmission, and other sources.
• Installation and operating costs for levelized cost of energy (LCOE) calculations (optional).
• Financial parameters for LCOE calculations (optional).

SAM's built-in libraries provide default data for sample systems and locations. You can run the model with this default data or provide your own. The wave resource library includes resource data for a few locations in the United States:

• California Central Coast
• California Humboldt Bay
• Oregon
• North Carolina
• Hawaii

The WEC library includes parameters for three types of WECs:

• Heaving buoy
• Oscillating surge weave converter
• Backward bent duct buoy floating oscillating column

The WECs in the library are based on open-source wave energy point designs as part of the Reference Model Project (RMP) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

Marine Energy Tidal Model

The marine energy tidal model is for a system that uses a tidal energy converter (TEC) to convert the energy of ocean tides into electricity. The model requires the following inputs:

• A table of tidal current flow versus column depth to characterize the tidal resource.
• A table of x-y positions if the system is an array of multiple TECs.
• Data specifying expected losses due to array spacing, resource prediction uncertainty, electrical transmission, and other sources.
• Installation and operating costs for levelized cost of energy (LCOE) calculations (optional).
• Financial parameters for LCOE calculations (optional).